Jiri Prochazka is backing Alex Pereira to make history when he moves up to heavyweight for an interim UFC title clash with Ciryl Gane on June 14.
Pereira is scheduled to face Gane for the interim UFC heavyweight championship in the co-main event at The White House, while Prochazka headlines UFC 327 the same night, meeting Carlos Ulberg for the vacant light heavyweight title at Kaseya Center in Miami.
Despite suffering both of his UFC losses by knockout to Pereira at light heavyweight, Prochazka is confident the Brazilian can rise to the occasion once again. "Let the better man win. I believe Alex can do that," Prochazka said.
Prochazka pointed to Pereira’s size and striking as key factors in the heavyweight matchup. "Alex can do that, especially when I saw him, his weight is going up. He's strong enough, too, and in the stand up, I believe he will be better. But Gane has a lot of movement for that."
A win over Gane would give Pereira a belt in a third UFC weight class, while Prochazka and Ulberg battle for the vacant light heavyweight title on the same card. Tom Aspinall, meanwhile, is recovering from double eye surgery and is not involved in the interim heavyweight bout.
