Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane squared off at the UFC White House faceoffs ahead of their interim heavyweight championship bout. The two fighters will compete for the interim title at the event.
Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane stood across from each other at the UFC White House faceoffs on June 13, one day before they meet for the interim heavyweight championship.
Pereira, nicknamed "Poatan," enters the bout as the reigning light heavyweight champion making a move up to the heavyweight division. The 38-year-old Brazilian trains out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness and carries a 13-4 record. Standing six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, Pereira lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute at a 62 percent accuracy rate, making him one of the most precise volume strikers in the sport.
Gane, known as "Bon Gamin," is the No. 2-ranked heavyweight contender and comes in with a 14-2 record. The 36-year-old Frenchman out of MMA Factory matches Pereira in height at six-foot-four but holds a notable reach advantage at 81 inches. Gane averages 5.29 significant strikes per minute with a 61 percent accuracy rate, and he adds a modest grappling dimension with 0.68 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- The interim heavyweight title is on the line, with major divisional implications at 265 pounds
- Pereira is a champion moving up a full weight class, testing his power and frame against established heavyweights
- Both fighters are similarly sized orthodox strikers with near-identical significant strike output, setting up a closely matched technical contest
- Gane's two-inch reach advantage could prove meaningful in a striking-heavy fight between two high-volume, high-accuracy competitors
Sunday, June 14, 2026
