UFC star Alex Pereira explained what it would mean to him to win a third UFC title when he tries to claim the heavyweight belt next weekend.
Pereira takes on Ciryl Gane in the co-main event of UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 at the White House in Washington, D.C. It is set to be one of the biggest sporting spectacles of all time, especially given the location of the fight card.
For Pereira, it’s also an opportunity to make UFC history as the first fighter ever to win three belts. The Brazilian is the former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight champion, and he will try to beat Gane to take the interim heavyweight title next Sunday at UFC Freedom 250.
Alex Pereira Explains What It Would Mean to Win a 3rd UFC Title
Speaking to Megan Olivi of Paramount+ before the big event next Sunday, Pereira explained what it would mean to him if he could make history and win a third UFC belt.
In addition to simply winning the title and making history, Pereira also noted how it was important for him to be able to share his story with so much media focus on him ahead of the UFC’s first-ever event at the White House.
“For me, it’s very important. We’re in the middle of the competition, and this is something nobody has ever done before, and I’m right there, close to accomplishing it,” Pereira said of potentially winning a history-making third UFC title.
“So, you know, I’m very happy to be able to show a little more of my story because we know that whenever you achieve something big, and we’re talking about a third belt here, people start paying more attention to you, right? The media starts focusing on you more. And that gives me the opportunity to show a bit about my childhood, the difficulties that I went through, things that many people can relate with, even alcoholism, which I’ve always spoken openly about. More people are going to see that now, and that’s very important to me.”
[ JUNE 14 | WATCH NOW: t.co/hyoY4WCmqu ]
Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane Betting Odds
There are seven fights set to UFC Freedom 250, and the Pereira vs. Gane fight is by far the one with the closest betting odds.
With just days to go until the big fight, Pereira is a slight -115 favorite, with Gane as a tiny -105 underdog. This line is as close to a Pick ’em as you can get, with a very slight lean towards Pereira. Given how close the odds are at the moment, they could easily flip by next weekend, and Pereira could enter this title fight as a small underdog.
The betting odds are so close because this fight is difficult to predict. As good as Pereira is, he is moving up to the UFC’s heaviest weight division, and we don’t know how he will look at heavyweight. Plus, he’s taking on Gane, who is one of the best heavyweights in the sport, so it’s just not an easy fight to predict.
Either way, it’s going to be an amazing interim heavyweight title fight, and UFC Freedom 250 can’t come soon enough.
Alex Pereira Explains What It Would Mean to Win a 3rd UFC Title