Alex Pereira will earn a guaranteed $10 million for his fight against Ciryl Gane at the White House event, making it the largest guaranteed purse in UFC history. Dan Hooker, whose future with the organization had been the subject of speculation after Pereira hinted he might be leaving, has signed a new eight-fight UFC contract. Secretary of State Marco Rubio predicted viewership could reach up to one billion people, while Dana White expects numbers comparable to the Super Bowl.
Alex Pereira will earn a guaranteed $10 million for his upcoming heavyweight clash against Ciryl Gane at the White House event, a figure that represents the largest guaranteed purse in UFC history.
Pereira steps into the fight carrying massive promotional weight, and his payday reflects it. The event has drawn extraordinary attention, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggesting viewership could reach as high as one billion people. Dana White has projected audience numbers comparable to the Super Bowl.
Gane enters the contest ranked second in the heavyweight division with a record of 14 wins and 2 losses. The 36-year-old Frenchman, who trains out of MMA Factory and fights out of an orthodox stance, is one of the most technically precise strikers in the division, landing 5.29 significant strikes per minute at an accuracy rate of 61 percent. Standing six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach, "Bon Gamin" carries a significant physical presence.
On the undercard news front, Dan Hooker has signed a new eight-fight deal with the UFC, putting to rest speculation about his future with the organization that had been fueled in part by comments from Pereira. The New Zealander, who trains out of City Kickboxing, holds a record of 24 wins and 14 losses and is currently ranked fifth in the lightweight division. The 36-year-old switch-stance fighter stands six feet tall with a 75-inch reach and posts 4.82 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the more active volume strikers in the 155-pound class.
Why it matters
- The $10 million guaranteed purse sets a new financial benchmark for UFC fighter pay and reflects the extraordinary scale the organization is aiming for with this event.
- Hooker's eight-fight contract is a significant commitment from both sides, securing one of lightweight's top-five fighters for a substantial run and ending uncertainty around his status.
- Gane's elite striking accuracy and reach advantage set up a compelling technical contrast at the top of the heavyweight division.
