Cyril Gane TKOs Alex Pereira in Round 2 to Win Interim Heavyweight Title

Cyril Gane claimed the interim UFC heavyweight championship with a second-round TKO of Alex Pereira at UFC WhiteHouse on June 15, 2026, ending a night that carried historic weight for both men.

Gane, now 14-2-1 NC, has built one of the most technically refined profiles in heavyweight history. The French striker was competing in his fifth UFC title fight and secured his second title-fight victory. His path to this interim belt was complicated by a previous bout against reigning heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall that was ruled a no contest, but there was no ambiguity in the outcome Saturday night.

Pereira, known as Poatan, entered the fight at 13-4 and was chasing a piece of history as the light heavyweight champion. Standing six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, the 38-year-old Brazilian is one of the most dangerous strikers in the sport, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy. A victory would have made him the first fighter in UFC history to capture titles in three separate weight classes. Instead, he falls short of that milestone and suffers the fourth loss of his professional career.

Why it matters

• Gane's interim title sets up a potential unification bout with undisputed heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, the 15-3 English finisher ranked sixth pound-for-pound.
• Aspinall, who stands six-foot-five with a 78-inch reach and lands 7.63 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 67 percent accuracy, represents a formidable obstacle to full gold.
• Pereira's pursuit of a historic third divisional title has stalled, raising questions about his path back to relevance at either light heavyweight or heavyweight.
• The interim title result reshapes the top of the heavyweight division and elevates Gane back into the conversation as one of the sport's elite big men.