Ciryl Gane Vows to Use Wrestling Against Alex Pereira at UFC White House

Ciryl Gane has declared he intends to bring wrestling into his fight with Alex Pereira at the UFC's White House event, signaling a deliberate tactical departure from the approach that has defined his career.

Gane, nicknamed "Bon Gamin," enters the contest ranked second in the heavyweight division with a 14-2 record. The 36-year-old Frenchman, who trains out of MMA Factory, stands six-foot-four with an extraordinary 81-inch reach. He has built his reputation as one of the sport's most technically refined strikers, landing 5.29 significant strikes per minute at an accuracy rate of 61 percent. His wrestling activity has been modest by comparison, averaging just 0.68 takedowns per 15 minutes, which makes his stated intent to lean on grappling a notable strategic declaration.

Standing across from him will be light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, who carries a 13-4 record into the bout. "Poatan" is 38 years old and represents Brazil out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness. The champion shares Gane's six-foot-four frame but holds a slightly shorter 79-inch reach. Pereira lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute with a 62 percent accuracy rate, making him one of the most dangerous punchers in the sport. His takedown rate of just 0.11 per 15 minutes underlines that his game is almost entirely built around striking.

Why it matters

• Gane is moving up from heavyweight to challenge a light heavyweight champion, adding a divisional crossroads dimension to the bout.
• Pereira's near-total reliance on striking — just 0.11 takedowns per 15 minutes — could represent a genuine vulnerability if Gane executes his stated wrestling plan.
• Both men are elite strikers with nearly identical output and accuracy, meaning any edge in the grappling exchanges could prove decisive.
• A win for Gane would make him a two-division threat; a Pereira victory would further cement his status as the sport's most dominant finisher.