Video: Fans line up to greet UFC interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane in Paris

UFC interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane received a hero’s welcome upon arriving to his home city of Paris.

Gane (10-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), who became the first French-born fighter to win a UFC title, has risen to stardom after his remarkably fast ascent in the sport.

The unbeaten 31-year-old scored another dominant win when he stopped Derrick Lewis in the third round to claim the interim title at UFC 265, setting up a highly anticipated title unification bout with his former training partner, UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.

Plenty of people lined up outside Gane’s gym, MMA Factory Paris, to congratulate him. The champ took photos and allowed fans to pose with his belt. In a statement made in French, Gane thanked everyone for the heart-warming reception, as well as the sport of MMA for allowing him to experience such a moment.

Watch the full clip below courtesy of Gane’s Twitter.

Merci tout le monde pour ce moment incroyable, ça me fait chaud au cœur de voir cet engouement, c’était important pour moi de partager ca avec vous.

Et merci le MMA de nous faire vivre ce genre de moment pic.twitter.com/t0BoAMx9XV

— Ciryl Gane (@ciryl_gane) August 18, 2021

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