Ciryl Gane has outlined his strategy for his upcoming bout against Alex Pereira on June 14, indicating that he doesn’t intend to engage in a purely striking-based fight. Gane and Pereira are set to compete for the interim heavyweight championship. The winner of this encounter is slated to face the reigning heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, in a title unification match once Aspinall is medically cleared.
Contrary to expectations of a striking slugfest, Gane has expressed his readiness to take the fight to the ground and pursue a submission victory over the Brazilian fighter, rather than solely focusing on a knockout. In a recent interview, the French fighter stated, “I don’t want to say it’s going to be a 100% striking match. This is MMA. Everyone knows I have wrestling capabilities. I can finish fights on the ground.”
While Gane has secured two submission wins in the UFC, Pereira, who has no submission victories, is renowned for his formidable knockout power, having decisively defeated notable fighters such as Magomed Ankalaev, Sean Strickland, Jiri Prochazka, and Israel Adesanya. With the support of his corner, Glover Teixeira and Plinio Cruz, Pereira will be well-prepared to defend takedowns and counter Gane’s strategy in his heavyweight debut.
The potential implications of a win for Alex Pereira have also been highlighted. UFC President Dana White commented on Pereira’s potential to become the “greatest of all time” if he secures a victory at UFC Freedom 250, which would mark his third UFC title in as many weight classes. 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.”
