Alex Pereira has claimed a rematch with Ciryl Gane is “going to happen”, as fans await clarity atop the UFC heavyweight division.
In June, Gane stopped Pereira at the White House to win the interim heavyweight title, while regular champion Tom Aspinall continued to recover from an eye injury. Pereira and many fans claimed that Gane struck the Brazilian on the back of the head multiple times just before the stoppage.
Speaking in a video on Instagram, Pereira said: “I think the fight that makes sense is Ciryl Gane. That’s the fight. I’m going to work on that, and from what I’m seeing, it’s something that’s going to happen.” He added: “How the last fight [ended], there were illegal shots. I think now, with another opportunity, I can come back and show what I can do, what I can achieve, which is the third belt.”
Despite the controversy, the expectation has been that Gane will face Aspinall next, especially given the Briton has finally returned to training after multiple eye surgeries. However, there are few opportunities for either fight to take place in 2026, with the UFC having already set main events for September and October, leaving only UFC 334 in November and UFC 335 in December.