Ciryl Gane has indicated that his plan against Alex Pereira on June 14 is not to solely engage in a striking battle. The upcoming interim heavyweight title bout, scheduled for the South Lawn of the White House, pits Gane against the formidable “Poatan.” The winner of this contest is slated to face the reigning heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, in a title unification match once Aspinall is medically cleared.
While many anticipated a striking showcase, “Bon Gamin” has stated his intention to potentially take the fight to the ground and secure a submission victory, rather than solely pursuing a knockout. In a recent interview with Megan Olivi, the French fighter explained:
“I don’t want to say it will be a 100% striking match. This is MMA. Everyone knows I have wrestling capabilities. I can finish fights on the ground.”
“Bon Gamin” has a history of two submission victories within the UFC. In contrast, “Poatan,” who has no submission wins, is renowned for his devastating knockout power, having defeated notable fighters like Magomed Ankalaev, Sean Strickland, Jiri Prochazka, and Israel Adesanya. With the support of Glover Teixeira and Plinio Cruz, Pereira is expected to be well-prepared to defend takedowns and overcome Gane’s challenge in his heavyweight debut.
Dana White’s Perspective on Alex Pereira’s Potential Legacy
Alex Pereira, a former two-time light heavyweight and former middleweight champion, has the opportunity to become the first three-division UFC champion on June 14 if he defeats Ciryl Gane. This potential victory would not only earn him the interim heavyweight title but also etch his name in history.
In response to this possibility, UFC President Dana White commented in a recent interview with Forbes that if “Poatan” secures his third world title, he would surpass Jon Jones in legacy, becoming the “greatest of all time.” White stated:
“If he [Alex Pereira] wins the third world title that night, he jumps over Jon Jones and becomes the greatest of all time.”
