Alex Pereira’s former foe expects the superstar to become the promotion’s first three-division titleholder.
Former UFC two-division champion Alex Pereira will look to become the UFC’s first three-division champ when he faces former interim heavyweight titleholder Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250. Pereira vacated the light heavyweight title to make the full-time move to heavyweight, and will fight Gane amidst Tom Aspinall’s ongoing hiatus due to injury.
Pereira vs. Gane is an intriguing stylistic matchup featuring two of the most dynamic strikers on the UFC roster. One of Pereira’s former rivals, Jiri Prochazka, knows a thing or two about making the move to heavyweight, as he did during his career in RIZIN.
After spending two fights in the Octagon with Pereira, and with his own personal experience in moving to heavyweight with success, Prochazka believes Pereira will hand Gane another title fight defeat.
Jiri Prochazka expects Alex Pereira to beat Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250
In a recent appearance on influencer Adin Ross’ Kick stream, Prochazka weighed in on the UFC Freedom 250 co-main event between Pereira and Gane.
“I believe Alex can do that,” Prochazka said of Pereira.
“Especially when I saw him, how his weight is going up. He’s strong enough, too, and in the stand-up, I believe he will be better.
“But Gane is a lot of movement for that.” (h/t Yahoo! Sports)
Pereira has teased a move to heavyweight for years, ever since he won his first UFC title at UFC 281 over Israel Adesanya. After finding sustainable success at light heavyweight, Pereira’s confidence in a heavyweight move grew with every fight.
Pereira’s entrance into the UFC heavyweight division comes at a time when the division is in desperate need of star power. Following Jon Jones’ abrupt retirement and Aspinall’s ongoing injury issues, Pereira could kick off a new era in the UFC’s ‘baddest’ grouping.
What is your prediction for Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane? Let us know in the comments!