UFC Freedom 250’s co-main event saw the always formidable, fearsome Alex Pereira make his eagerly anticipated move to heavyweight, looking to claim gold in a third weight class against a former interim champ in Ciryl Gane.
On a card designed to celebrate America’s 250th birthday (or, given it was falling on June 14, U.S. President Donald Trump’s birthday), having a Brazilian and a Frenchman facing off at the White House might seem like a dubious decision at best. Yet “Poatan,” as Pereira is known (“stone hand” in Tupi, an indigenous language in his native Brazil, or “hands of stone” if you prefer) has ascended the mountain in the UFC to become one of the promotion’s biggest stars.
Should he get past Gane to claim interim gold, it would be a history-making feat. And would line him up for a fight with Tom Aspinall, or even, should he decide to insert his name in the equation, Jon Jones, who was given the cold shoulder when it came to the White House card.
Gane, meanwhile, wanted a second crack at Aspinall after the first ended early due to inadvertent eye pokes.
Getting the crowd gasping early, Pereira opened with a head kick that was blocked, then landed a leg kick. If there were any questions about the Brazilian’s size at heavyweight, he certainly looked the part, far from small standing up against Gane. For Gane’s part, he connected with a jab, more probing than damaging. Pereira, meanwhile, doubled up on his calf kicks.
Comfortable with his own kicks, Gane landed to the inside of Pereira’s leg. Pereira’s kicks were more likely to go high, however, and had more on them. Gane continued to work his jab, while Pereira was reserved with his hands. Gane shook things up with a takedown attempt, which seemed to get Pereira’s attention even though it wasn’t complete. Gane would connect with a combo, two minutes still on the clock, the best offense of the round to that point. In the final minute, with Gane finding decent success, Pereira sailed over the French heavyweight’s head with a kick. A second would be blocked, though Pereira would land to the leg with a third.
Right at the horn, Pereira would connect with a right hand, but the round appeared to favor Ciryl Gane. He’d come out and put the hurt on Alex Pereira in round two, dropping the former two-division champ with a jab and swarming him. Blow after blow, club-like hammer fists, landed on the fallen Pereira, yet somehow he survived. “Poatan” miraculously recovered, if not fully, and Gane when right after him, lighting up Pereira! Ref Herb Dean was right on top of the action, but chose to let it continue. A left, right, and another left finally put Pereira away, but he appeared to be out of the fight a short time before that.
Ciryl Gane is once again the UFC’s interim heavyweight champ, and a second date with Tom Aspinall seems all but certain. “Let’s do it in Paris in September,” Gane suggested following the fight.
Official Result: Ciryl Gane def. Alex Pereira by TKO, Round 2, 1:27
