Alex Pereira to Fight Ciryl Gane for Interim Heavyweight Title at UFC Freedom 250

Alex Pereira will face Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC heavyweight title on Sunday at UFC Freedom 250, the event scheduled for the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. Pereira, 38, enters the co-main event with a 13-3 record after winning titles at middleweight and light heavyweight. A victory would mark the first time a fighter has held UFC belts in three weight classes.

Path to the Title Shot Pereira began training with Glover Teixeira in 2020 while still primarily a kickboxer. Teixeira, then preparing for a fight against Thiago Santos, invited Pereira to spar at his Connecticut gym. Pereira moved to Connecticut, lived briefly with Teixeira, and focused on wrestling and jiu-jitsu.

Teixeira told CBS Sports that Pereira showed rapid improvement in those areas during their first month of training together.

Teixeira predicted in November 2021 that Pereira would become a UFC champion within one year. Pereira captured the middleweight title three wins and roughly one year later. Pereira later moved to light heavyweight and won that division title as well. He has defeated six former champions across both weight classes.

Pereira has maintained an active schedule, fighting three times per year in his first three UFC years. He lost a light heavyweight title bout in March 2025 but regained the belt seven months later. Pereira told CBS Sports through an interpreter that his personal life has remained unchanged despite his success.

He has discussed his upbringing and past struggles with alcoholism in public appearances. The interim title bout takes place while full champion Tom Aspinall recovers from eye surgery. Aspinall's manager has publicly discussed the possibility of his release from the UFC.