Michael Jai White recently shared a training video on Instagram, which caught everyone’s attention. He can be seen training with UFC interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane. Gane’s impressive movement and skill were enough to make White compare it with the experience of going one-on-one against basketball legends- Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant.

On June 23, White posted the session, calling it an honor to train with Gane. The duo engages in a light sparring session where both are clearly having fun.

His video, captioned, “Sometimes I just love my life! Imagine being into basketball and getting the chance to play 1 on-1 with Jordan, Kobe AND LeBron! Thank you Coach @lopez_fernand, &@mma_factory_paris & newly crowned @UFC Heavyweight Champion, @Cyril_gane for your brothership and hospitality! ” has racked up over 102K likes and thousands of comments.

“We will do it again sometime soon,” White says, laughing in the video, with Gane in the background giving him a thumbs up.

This occurred roughly 2 weeks after Gane knocked out Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 to claim the interim heavyweight championship.

White's comment about the experience, feeling like he was playing 1v1 with Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan, had a simple message. His training session with Gane felt as honorable as training with the two basketball legends. For White, it felt like a chance to have a firsthand experience of elite-level greatness.

Inside Ciryl Gane’s unusual training philosophy

Unlike most athletes, Gane follows a very unusual approach when it comes to training. He even reveals an astonishing secret about his training mindset, calling himself “lazy”.

“If I look back at my career, this is a regret. I love grappling, but unfortunately, I’m lazy; that’s the truth. I only train when a fight is announced. I have a lot of media obligations,” he said, as per Republic. "Professional opportunities outside of the sport. You can’t say no to all these things. I also have to give time to my family, and rest well."

Furthermore, he revealed to La Sueur how he only trains when fights are announced. This is a contrast from most of the fighters who continue to train despite not having a fight lined up.

"I only train when a fight is announced. I had my fight against Tuivasa, barely trained since then, and now I’m back it since the Jones fight has been announced.”

What do you think of Gane’s unusual training mindset?

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Written by

Avantika Das

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi