Alex Pereira: Third UFC belt 'will symbolize everything I've been through'

Alex Pereira is on the verge of achieving an unprecedented feat in UFC history. The Brazilian fighter, who transitioned to mixed martial arts relatively late at age 21 after a storied kickboxing career, will challenge heavyweight contender Ciryl Gane in the co-main event of the UFC White House card on June 14, seeking to become the first fighter ever to win UFC titles across three different weight classes.

Pereira has already captured championships in both Glory Kickboxing and the UFC, establishing himself as one of combat sports' most accomplished champions. A potential victory over Gane would add another layer of historical significance to his resume. When asked about the symbolic weight of this achievement, Pereira emphasized that this particular belt would transcend the typical value of a UFC title.

"For me, it will be something very special. Unique," Pereira told UFC on Paramount+. "This will only happen once, it's a unique belt. Many have the UFC belt, but this one is different, so it will symbolize everything I've been through, all the difficulties to get there."

Pereira's journey from a late starter in combat sports to a multi-divisional champion represents one of the sport's most remarkable comeback stories. Should he defeat Gane, this third championship would cement his legacy as perhaps the most accomplished fighter across multiple combat disciplines in modern MMA history.