Alex Pereira is set to make his heavyweight debut in a high-stakes spot, facing Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14.
The event is scheduled to take place at the White House in Washington, D.C., and stream on Paramount+. Pereira enters with a 13-3 MMA record and 10-2 in the UFC, while Gane brings a 13-2 MMA mark and matching 10-2 UFC slate into the interim title bout.
Pereira described the transition to heavyweight as a welcome change. "In terms of going for heavyweight, it's nice because no restrictions. I've been eating clean and eating good. It's been fun," he said. He added, "In terms of performance, I feel the exact same. Obviously it's not possible to bulk up to a much higher weight class, bigger, and not lose maybe a little bit of speed. We'll see in the fight. But I feel the exact same. I just added, but didn't lose anything."
Debate has swirled around the status of the belt he is fighting for, but Pereira made clear he is focused on competing. "If it's lineal, if it's interim – for me, it doesn't matter," he said. "Obviously I've heard people talking about that, that it's not the lineal belt and this and that. What is the point of me trying to defend myself? I just want to keep fighting and making my money and let people talk, and whatever they decide for me is good."
