Alex Pereira will earn a guaranteed $10 million for his bout with Ciryl Gane at the White House event, making it the largest guaranteed purse in UFC history. Dan Hooker, despite Pereira teasing uncertainty about Hooker's future with the promotion, has signed a new eight-fight UFC contract. The White House lawn event survived a legal challenge from Vietnam veterans' groups and civic organizations, with a court ruling in favor of the event proceeding.
Alex Pereira is set to earn a guaranteed $10 million for his heavyweight clash with Ciryl Gane at the upcoming White House lawn event, a figure that represents the largest guaranteed purse in UFC history.
Pereira, the current light heavyweight champion who has moved up to challenge at heavyweight, will face Gane in a bout that carries enormous financial and divisional weight. Gane enters the contest ranked second in the heavyweight division with a 14-2 record. The six-foot-four Frenchman out of MMA Factory is 36 years old and brings exceptional striking volume to the cage, landing 5.29 significant strikes per minute at a 61 percent accuracy rate — one of the most efficient outputs in the division.
In a separate development, Dan Hooker has signed a new eight-fight contract with the UFC, ending any uncertainty over his future with the promotion after Pereira had publicly teased doubt about whether "The Hangman" would remain on the roster. The New Zealand native, who trains out of City Kickboxing, holds a 24-14 record and sits fifth in the lightweight rankings at 36 years old. The six-foot southpaw carries a 75-inch reach and averages 4.82 significant strikes per minute, underlining his value as an active and durable lightweight contender.
The White House lawn event itself survived a legal challenge from Vietnam veterans' groups and civic organizations, with a court ruling permitting the event to proceed as planned.
Why it matters
- Pereira's $10 million guarantee sets a new financial benchmark for UFC fighter pay
- Gane's second-ranked heavyweight status means a Pereira victory would carry legitimate title implications at 265 pounds
- Hooker's eight-fight deal secures his place in a stacked lightweight division where he sits inside the top five
