Alex Pereira will earn a guaranteed $10 million for his fight against Ciryl Gane, making it the largest guaranteed purse in UFC history. Dan Hooker has signed a new eight-fight contract with the UFC. Pereira has also launched his own creatine brand ahead of the event. A legal challenge from Vietnam veterans and U.S. civic groups seeking to block the UFC's White House lawn event was dismissed by a court.
Alex Pereira is set to earn a guaranteed $10 million for his upcoming heavyweight clash against Ciryl Gane, a figure that would represent the largest guaranteed purse in UFC history. The news arrives alongside confirmation that Dan Hooker has signed a new eight-fight contract with the promotion, and that a legal challenge seeking to block the UFC's planned White House lawn event has been dismissed by a court.
Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion, steps up to heavyweight to face Gane in what is shaping up to be one of the most financially significant bouts the organization has ever staged. Ahead of the event, Pereira has also launched his own creatine supplement brand.
Gane enters the fight ranked second in the heavyweight division. The 36-year-old Frenchman out of MMA Factory stands six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach and carries a 14-2 professional record. He is one of the more technically refined strikers in the heavyweight ranks, posting a striking accuracy of 61 percent and landing 5.29 significant strikes per minute.
Hooker's new eight-fight deal secures the New Zealand native's future with the UFC at a notable stage of his career. The 36-year-old City Kickboxing product holds a 24-14 record and is currently ranked fifth at lightweight. Standing six feet tall with a 75-inch reach, Hooker fights out of a switch stance and is an active striker, averaging 4.82 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Pereira's $10 million guarantee sets a new financial benchmark for UFC fighter pay
- Gane's ranking and technical skill make this a genuine title-level heavyweight contest
- Hooker's eight-fight commitment cements City Kickboxing's continued presence near the top of the lightweight division
- The court dismissal clears the path for the UFC's planned White House lawn event to proceed
