Pereira guaranteed $10M for Gane fight, Hockett signs 8-fight UFC deal

Alex Pereira will earn a guaranteed $10 million purse when he faces Ciryl Gane at UFC White House on June 14, 2026, a figure that represents the largest guaranteed payout in UFC history.

Pereira, 38, enters the bout as the reigning light heavyweight champion with a record of 13-4. The Brazilian standout, who trains out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness, stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach and has built his reputation as one of the sport's most dangerous strikers, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute at a 62 percent accuracy rate. Despite moving up to heavyweight for this contest, his punching power and precision remain his defining attributes.

Opposite him is France's Ciryl Gane, nicknamed "Bon Gamin," who holds a 14-2 record and is ranked second in the heavyweight division. The 36-year-old MMA Factory product matches Pereira in height at six-foot-four but carries a longer 81-inch reach. Gane is one of the most technically refined strikers in the heavyweight division, posting 5.29 significant strikes per minute at 61 percent accuracy.

In a separate development, Tai Hockett has signed an eight-fight contract with the UFC, expanding the organization's roster ahead of what is shaping up to be a landmark event.

The scale of UFC White House has drawn attention well beyond the sport. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has suggested the event could attract up to one billion viewers, while Dana White has drawn comparisons to Super Bowl-level audience figures.

Why it matters

• Pereira's $10 million guaranteed purse sets a new benchmark for fighter pay in UFC history
• A light heavyweight champion stepping up to face a top-two heavyweight raises significant divisional questions for both weight classes
• The projected viewership numbers, if realized, would mark a historic moment for MMA's global reach