Alex Pereira is set to earn a guaranteed $10 million for his fight against Ciryl Gane, the largest guaranteed purse in UFC history. Josh Hooker has signed a new eight-fight contract with the UFC, putting to rest speculation about his future with the organization. At the White House press conference, Hooker's microphone was cut off after he aggressively championed Justin Gaethje over Ilia Topuria.
Alex Pereira is set to earn a guaranteed $10 million for his upcoming heavyweight clash with Ciryl Gane, a figure reported as the largest guaranteed purse in UFC history. In a separate development, Josh Hooker has signed a new eight-fight contract with the UFC, ending uncertainty over his organizational future. Both stories surfaced during a White House press conference, where Hooker also drew attention after his microphone was cut off while he loudly advocated for Justin Gaethje over Ilia Topuria.
Pereira's opponent, Ciryl Gane, is currently ranked second in the heavyweight division. The 36-year-old Frenchman, who trains out of MMA Factory, carries a 14-2-0 record and stands six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach. Gane is an exceptionally precise striker, landing 5.29 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 61 percent accuracy — among the best marks in the division.
The fighter at the center of Hooker's microphone moment is Justin Gaethje, the reigning lightweight champion. The 37-year-old American from Genesis Training Center holds a 28-5-0 record and is one of the most prolific strikers in the sport, landing 6.48 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. Gaethje stands five-foot-eleven with a 70-inch reach.
The man Hooker was arguing against, Ilia Topuria, currently sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings despite being ranked second in the lightweight division. The 29-year-old Spaniard is 17-1-0 and fights out of Climent Club. Standing five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, Topuria lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute and also adds 1.96 takedown attempts per 15 minutes to his arsenal.
Why it matters
- Pereira's $10 million guarantee reportedly sets a new financial benchmark for UFC contracted athletes.
- Hooker's eight-fight deal removes any question about his UFC status and locks him in for a significant stretch of his career.
- Hooker's public push for Gaethje over the pound-for-pound number-one Topuria signals the lightweight title picture remains a flashpoint heading into the next cycle of bookings.
