Alex Pereira is set to chase a piece of UFC history this Sunday when he moves up to heavyweight to face Ciryl Gane for the interim title in the co-main event of UFC White House.
The former two-division world champion will compete for a belt in a third weight class, with UFC CEO Dana White stating that a win could make Pereira the first fighter in UFC history to claim titles in three divisions and even push him ahead of Jon Jones in the GOAT conversation.
Pereira says he views this opportunity as another major chapter in a career already filled with milestones. "I think everything that I achieved has its own importance," Pereira said. "For an example, when I beat defeated Adesanya, like I say, it was a very important moment to me. [This opportunity] is a huge moment too, to being present and winning the third belt."
According to Pereira, he only learned of the UFC White House booking when the public did. "I found out the same way that everybody else found out," he explained. "I renegotiated my contract for eight fights before that, then negotiating that, I expressed my intention [that] I wanted to fight at the White House. They said it might not happen, and I went, signed a contract deal, the fight deal, and I told them, ‘Whatever you guys want to do, I’m fine.‘"
Tom Aspinall remains the heavyweight champion but is sidelined with an eye injury suffered in his title defense against Gane at UFC 321, which ended in a no-contest due to an eye poke. Aspinall has expressed interest in facing the winner of Pereira vs. Gane.
In the main event of UFC White House, Ilia Topuria will face Justin Gaethje.
