Gane Claims Pereira Declined January Offer
Ciryl Gane has said that Alex Pereira turned down the chance to fight him on short notice earlier this year. The two fighters eventually met in June at UFC Freedom 250. In that fight, Gane stopped Pereira to win the interim heavyweight title. But according to Gane, the UFC first tried to book the matchup several months before that.
Two Weeks’ Notice for Paramount Event
In a recent interview, Gane said the UFC approached him about fighting Pereira with just two weeks’ notice. The fight would have been for the promotion’s first Paramount event in January. Gane said he accepted the offer right away, as he always does. But he claimed Pereira’s side did not accept. Because of that, the fight was pushed back and happened in June instead. Gane explained that he always says yes quickly to fights, but the other side declined this time.
Gane Now Undisputed Heavyweight Champion
Since beating Pereira, Gane’s status has changed. He was elevated to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion after Tom Aspinall vacated the title. Aspinall is still recovering from the eye injury he suffered in their UFC 321 fight, which ended in a no contest. With Aspinall stepping away, Gane became the full champion.
First Title Defence Against Josh Hokit
Gane will now make his first defence of the undisputed title. He is set to face undefeated contender Josh Hokit in the main event of UFC 334. The fight will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York on November 14. Hokit comes into the title fight with a perfect 10-0 professional record. He is an unbeaten challenger, which makes the matchup interesting for fans.
Pereira Still in the Title Picture
Pereira remains one of the biggest names around the heavyweight title picture. He moved up from light heavyweight and has stayed relevant in the division. Even though he lost to Gane in June, his name is still part of the conversation at heavyweight. A rematch between Gane and Pereira could happen somewhere down the line if both fighters keep winning.
What This Means for the Heavyweight Division
The heavyweight division is in an interesting place. Gane is now the undisputed champion, but he has a tough challenger in Hokit waiting for him. Aspinall is out for now, and Pereira is still lurking as a potential future opponent. Gane’s claim about Pereira turning down the January fight adds another layer to their rivalry. Whether Pereira responds to the claim remains to be seen. For now, Gane is focused on defending his title against Hokit.
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