Francis Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight champion, has voiced his opinion that Ciryl Gane could pose significant stylistic problems for Alex Pereira in their upcoming heavyweight clash. Pereira is set to make his debut in the heavyweight division against Gane for the interim title at UFC Freedom 250, scheduled for June 14th at the White House.
Alex Pereira has experienced a rapid ascent in combat sports, achieving remarkable success within just 12 UFC appearances. In a span of over two years, he made history by becoming the promotion’s ninth two-division champion, holding both the middleweight and light heavyweight titles. Now, the 38-year-old Brazilian is on the verge of achieving an even greater feat: becoming the first fighter to hold UFC titles in three different weight classes. Many observers believe his formidable striking skills make this milestone attainable.
However, Francis Ngannou, who has previously defeated Ciryl Gane, holds a different view. He believes that Alex Pereira might struggle to find victory at the White House event.
Francis Ngannou: Ciryl Gane Presents Major Obstacles for Alex Pereira
In a recent interview with Helen Yee, Francis Ngannou discussed the anticipated matchup between Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane. While acknowledging Pereira’s achievements, Ngannou predicted that Gane’s style could create a challenging scenario for the former two-division champion, especially considering his move to a heavier weight class.
“I think Ciryl has more tools, and then Alex Pereira has his own style. Ciryl Gane has his own style,” Ngannou stated. “For me, and I might be wrong, but it’s not a good matchup for Alex Pereira in terms of style, basically if he’s moving up to the division and has to face a heavyweight who is even lighter on his feet.”
Pereira’s last outing was at UFC 320 in October, where he secured a first-round knockout against Magomed Ankalaev to regain the light heavyweight title. He currently holds a 10-2 record in the UFC, with significant wins over fighters like Jiri Prochazka, Israel Adesanya, and Khalil Rountree Jr.
Ciryl Gane is coming off a no-contest in his last fight at UFC 321 in October, where an accidental eye poke from him rendered heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall unable to continue. Gane’s UFC record stands at 10-2 with one no-contest, including victories over notable opponents such as Derrick Lewis, Sergey Spivak, and Tai Tuivasa.