Ciryl Gane stops Alex Pereira by TKO to claim interim UFC heavyweight title

Ciryl Gane captured the interim UFC heavyweight title by stopping Alex Pereira via TKO at UFC White House on June 14, 2026, delivering one of the most striking upsets in recent heavyweight history.

Gane, known as "Bon Gamin," improved his professional record to 14-2-0 with the victory. The 36-year-old Frenchman, who trains out of MMA Factory and entered the fight ranked second in the heavyweight division, is one of the most technically refined fighters at 265 pounds. Standing six-foot-four with an extraordinary 81-inch reach, Gane backs his physical tools with elite output, landing 5.29 significant strikes per minute at a 61 percent accuracy rate — numbers that place him among the division's most precise offensive threats.

Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion competing at a higher weight class, fell to 13-4-0 in what was an ambitious move up from 205 pounds. The Brazilian knockout artist, nicknamed "Poatan," carries a 62 percent striking accuracy rate of his own and lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the most dangerous punchers in the sport at any weight. At 38, the six-foot-four Teixeira MMA and Fitness product held a two-inch reach disadvantage coming in and was stepping into unfamiliar heavyweight territory.

Why it matters

• Gane now holds interim heavyweight gold, setting up a potential unification fight with whoever holds the undisputed title
• Pereira's loss raises questions about his future: a return to light heavyweight and a title defense, or another run at heavyweight
• The matchup pitted two of combat sports' best strikers against each other, with Gane's volume and reach proving decisive
• At 36, Gane claims championship hardware after previously challenging for the undisputed heavyweight title, completing a remarkable second act in his career