Laura Sanko is firmly backing Alex Pereira ahead of his move to heavyweight, predicting he will defeat Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250.
Pereira is scheduled to face Gane in the June 14 co-main event at the White House in Washington DC, with the interim belt on the line. The bout comes after Pereira has already captured UFC gold at middleweight and light heavyweight.
"There's so many unknowns about what Alex will look like at heavyweight," Sanko said, before laying out why she still leans his way. "It seems to me, if there was ever a light heavyweight to apply his trade at heavyweight, it would be Alex Pereira. Against Ciryl Gane, though, he's not facing a guy who is just out there lumbering forward, slanging and banging. This is a guy who moves and hits really hard but at that same token is not known necessarily as a knockout artist in the heavyweight division, not like a guy like Derrick Lewis."
Sanko expects a technical battle on the feet with possible clinch work from Gane. "I think a lot of it is going to be footwork," she said, adding, "I'm not saying it's going to go to a decision, but I do see these two having a very intelligent kickboxing match for quite a while... I'm interested to see if either, maybe Gane looks to grapple."
Ultimately, Sanko is making a clear call. "I'm bold," she said. "I actually feel like Alex is going to get it done. I think he's going to look really good at heavyweight, and we're going to see it early and that he's going to find his shot... something feels kind of magical with him chasing this piece of history."
