Ciryl Gane, set to face Alex Pereira on June 14th on the South Lawn of the White House for the interim heavyweight title, has indicated he won’t solely rely on striking.
While the winner of this bout is slated to face the reigning champion Tom Aspinall later this year for a title unification, Gane has hinted at a broader approach than just a striking exhibition.
During an interview with Megan Olivi, the French fighter stated, « I don’t want to say it’s going to be an 100% striking match. This is MMA. Everybody knows I can do some wrestling. I can finish fights on the ground. » This suggests Gane is prepared to take the fight to the mat and aim for a submission victory over the powerful Brazilian.
Gane, known as « Bon Gamin, » has secured two submission wins in the UFC. In contrast, « Poatan, » who has never won by submission, is renowned for his formidable knockout power, having defeated notable fighters like Magomed Ankalaev, Sean Strickland, Jiri Prochazka, and Israel Adesanya.
With his corner team, including Glover Teixeira and Plinio Cruz, Alex Pereira is expected to be well-prepared to defend takedowns and face Gane’s challenge in his heavyweight debut.
Dana White’s Take on Alex Pereira’s Legacy
Alex Pereira, a former two-time UFC light heavyweight champion and former middleweight titleholder, has the opportunity to become the first three-division UFC champion on June 14th if he defeats Ciryl Gane. A victory would not only secure him the interim heavyweight title but also make historical significance.
UFC President Dana White commented on this possibility in a recent interview with Forbes, suggesting that if Pereira wins a third world title, he would surpass Jon Jones in legacy and become the « greatest of all time. »