Alex Pereira's June 14 Loss to Ciryl Gane Called 'Completely Legitimate'

Alex Pereira's June 14 loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250 has been called "completely legitimate" by a former UFC light heavyweight champion.

What happened?

On June 14, Ciryl Gane stopped Alex Pereira in Round 2 by TKO, capturing the interim heavyweight gold. Pereira, a former two-division UFC champion, was knocked down in Round 2 and tried to survive by holding onto Gane's leg. However, Gane rained down elbows and punches, badly wobbling the former champ and prompting the referee to step in and stop the fight.

Why it matters for Alex Pereira

Following the defeat, Pereira took aim at referee Herb Dean, alleging that Ciryl Gane landed illegal blows to the back of his head. However, a UFC light heavyweight champion believes the stoppage to be fair. Jan Blachowicz, Pereira's former opponent, opined that "Poatan" looked slow and heavy against Ciryl Gane, and although he loves Pereira as a fighter, the 39-year-old lost to Gane fair and square.

What comes next?

During a recent sit-down with James Lynch, Blachowicz said that since Pereira was moving a lot, some shots by Gane could have landed on the back of Pereira's head. The 43-year-old said: "I like Alex a lot, but his loss against Ciryl was completely legitimate. He looked slow, not as sharp, and was beat that night. He's still a top guy no matter the division."

Pereira, a former two-division UFC champion, vacated his 205-pound strap earlier this year and moved up to heavyweight in pursuit of three-division glory. The Brazilian's loss to Ciryl Gane has sparked debate among fans and pundits, with some questioning the legitimacy of the stoppage.

However, Blachowicz's comments suggest that Pereira's loss was a result of his own performance, rather than any foul play by Gane. Pereira's future in the heavyweight division remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: he will need to regroup and refocus if he is to achieve his goal of becoming a three-division champion.

The Brazilian's next move will be crucial in determining his path forward. Will he continue to push for a title shot in the heavyweight division, or will he look to drop back down to light heavyweight? Only time will tell.

In the meantime, Pereira will need to work on his performance and address any issues that may have contributed to his loss to Ciryl Gane. With a strong training camp and a bit of luck, he may be able to bounce back and make a run for the heavyweight title.

But for now, Pereira's loss to Ciryl Gane remains a sore spot for the Brazilian. Despite his impressive resume, Pereira's inability to overcome Gane's onslaught has left many wondering if he has what it takes to compete at the highest level in the heavyweight division.

The debate surrounding Pereira's loss will continue to rage on, but one thing is certain: the Brazilian will need to prove himself in the heavyweight division if he is to achieve his goal of becoming a three-division champion.

category: match_report