The White House hosts its first-ever UFC event! 'Stone Fist' Pereira aims to capture Cyril Gane and write history as the first-ever '3-division champion' in UFC history

*This content was translated by AI.

'Stone Fist' Alex Pereira (39, Brazil) will challenge history's most unprecedented feat: becoming the first fighter to dominate three weight classes in UFC history, all on a hanbok-themed stage at the White House.

Pereira, the former UFC Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Champion, will face off against 'Heavyweight (120.2kg) #1 ranked' Cyril Gane (36, France) in a fierce one-on-one bout for the interim Heavyweight title at the 'UFC Freedom 250' event, held on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington D.C., USA, on the 15th (Korean time), commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

To date, only 11 fighters in UFC history have held two weight classes simultaneously or at different times. However, since the UFC's inception in 1993, no fighter has ever reached the pinnacle of three weight classes. If Pereira wins this fight, he will become the first person in history to hold the title of '3-division champion.'

Although this is an interim title fight, if the official champion, Tom Aspinall, who has been sidelined for eight months due to an eye injury, is delayed in his return, the interim champion will assume the official champion's position. Even if Aspinall returns, an unification title fight is scheduled between him and the winner of this bout, making this matchup effectively a contest for the next Heavyweight throne.

Pereira (13 wins, 3 losses), who moved up from lower weight classes, confidently matched the Heavyweight weight limit. At the weigh-in, Pereira recorded 113.9kg, passing the scale in a condition 1.6kg heavier than the Heavyweight specialist Cyril Gane (112.5kg, 13 wins, 2 losses, 1 no-contest), showcasing his peak condition.

On this day as well, Pereira appeared on the outdoor stage of the White House South Lawn wearing traditional attire from his ancestral Patasho tribe in Brazil. He shared a firm handshake with Cyril Gane and struck a fighting pose with a sharp gaze.

Cyril Gane, a former Muay Thai champion from France, expressed, "I am very happy to fight Alex Pereira at such an iconic location as the White House," and added, "It is always enjoyable to face a strong opponent with a new style."

In response, Pereira addressed the crowd filling the White House, saying, "Thank you to everyone who came here today," and vowed, "As this is a special day marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, I will repay you with an amazing fight inside the octagon tomorrow." The crowd enthusiastically responded by chanting Pereira's signature catchphrase, 'Chama (Fire).'

Pereira, who had previously dominated both the Middleweight and Light Heavyweight divisions at 'GLORY,' the world's premier stand-up fighting organization, is now making his mark on the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) stage. True to his nickname 'Stone Fist,' his weapon is an incredible one-punch KO power that can knock opponents down with a single touch. In contrast, Cyril Gane is a well-rounded technician known for his agile footwork, diverse kicks, and intelligent striking techniques, which are unusual for a Heavyweight.

Meanwhile, 'UFC Freedom 250,' the first event in history to be held on an outdoor special stage at the White House, will be broadcast live starting at 9 a.m. on the 15th on the terrestrial sports entertainment channel tvN and the OTT platform TVING.

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*This content was translated by AI.