Ciryl Gane knocked out Alex Pereira in the second round at UFC White House to claim the interim UFC heavyweight championship. Gane dropped Pereira with a sharp jab and finished the fight convincingly. The result marks Pereira's third loss in the UFC.
Ciryl Gane claimed the interim UFC heavyweight championship on June 14 at UFC White House, stopping Alex Pereira with a second-round knockout after dropping the Brazilian champion with a precise jab.
Gane, 36, entered the fight ranked second in the heavyweight division and made a statement with one of the defining performances of his career. The Frenchman, who trains out of MMA Factory and stands six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach, improved his record to 14-2. Known for his technical striking, Gane lands 5.29 significant strikes per minute at a 61 percent accuracy rate, making him one of the most efficient offensive fighters in the division.
Pereira, 38, came in as the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion, moving up to compete at heavyweight. The Brazilian, who trains with Teixeira MMA and Fitness, stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach and carries a 62 percent striking accuracy rate of his own, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute. The defeat drops his record to 13-4 and marks the third loss of his UFC career.
Why it matters
- Gane captures the interim heavyweight title, positioning himself as a mandatory challenger at 265 pounds
- Pereira suffers his third UFC defeat while moving up in weight, raising questions about his heavyweight future
- The finish came via Gane's jab, highlighting how his technical output overwhelmed one of the sport's most dangerous strikers
- A highly anticipated unification bout at heavyweight now becomes a realistic possibility
Sunday, June 14, 2026
