Ciryl Gane prevented Alex Pereira from making UFC history in the co-main event of UFC Freedom 250.
Gane knocked out Pereira in the second round to win the interim heavyweight title matchup and stop Pereira from becoming the first fighter to win UFC titles in three different weight classes.
Pereira was making his heavyweight debut on Sunday night and, if victorious, would’ve added that interim title to his collection that includes the UFC middleweight and light-heavyweight belts.
The soon-to-be 39-year-old from Brazil also had a legendary career as a two-weight kickboxing world champion before transitioning to mixed martial arts.
“Poatan” began his UFC tenure 4.5 years ago as a 185-pounder and won the middleweight belt when he beat Israel Adesanya in 2022. He later moved up to the 205-pound division, where he became a two-time light-heavyweight champ with six knockout wins over an eight-fight stretch.
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Pereira decided to move up in weight yet again following an 80-second win over Magomed Ankalaev in October.
At Saturday’s UFC Freedom 250 weigh-in, Pereira weighed a career-high 251 pounds with Gane tipping the scale at 248 pounds.
Gane was competing in his fifth UFC heavyweight title fight in his past eight appearances. He is now 2-2 with one no-contest so far when UFC gold is on the line and is a two-time interim champion.
The 36-year-old from France previously won an interim belt five years ago when he defeated Derrick Lewis before eventually losing a unification bout to Francis Ngannou. He also lost a separate title bout to Jon Jones.
Gane is coming off a fight against reigning heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall in October, during which Gane poked Aspinall in both eyes, resulting in a no-contest.
Aspinall has still not been cleared for contact as he recovers from the multiple eye surgeries required due to Gane's fouls.
Gane knows an undisputed title matchup with Aspinall is next, and after beating Pereira, called for the rematch to take place in September when the UFC figures to hold its annual event in Paris.
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