Ciryl Gane has stated that his approach against Alex Pereira on June 14 will not solely focus on striking. The interim heavyweight title bout is set to take place at the White House.
The winner of this fight is slated to face the reigning heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, in a unification bout once Aspinall is medically cleared. While many anticipated a stand-up battle, Gane has indicated that he might take the fight to the ground and aim for a submission rather than just a knockout.
In an interview, the French fighter explained, “I donโt want to say itโs going to be an 100% striking match. This is MMA. Everybody knows I can do some wrestling. I can finish fights on the ground.”
Gane has secured two submission victories during his UFC career. In contrast, Alex Pereira, despite his formidable knockout power and victories over elite fighters like Magomed Ankalaev, Sean Strickland, Jiri Prochazka, and Israel Adesanya, has no submission wins in the UFC.
Pereira, with his cornermen Glover Teixeira and Plinio Cruz, will be well-prepared to defend takedowns and counter Gane’s strategy in his heavyweight debut.
Dana White: Pereira’s Potential Win Could Cement GOAT Status
Alex Pereira, a former two-time light heavyweight and middleweight champion, has the opportunity to become the first three-division UFC champion on June 14 if he defeats Ciryl Gane. A victory would not only earn him the interim heavyweight title but also make historical significance.
UFC President Dana White commented on this possibility in a recent interview with Forbes. White suggested that if Pereira wins his third world title, he would surpass Jon Jones to become the “greatest of all time.”
“If he wins the third world title that night, he jumps over Jon Jones and becomes the greatest of all time,” White stated.
