Alex Pereira seeking Ciryl Gane rematch for his next fight: ‘From what I’m seeing, it’s something that’s going to happen’

Former UFC two-division champion Alex Pereira is eager to return to competition and has made clear his next target: a rematch with Ciryl Gane. Pereira has been sidelined since June, when he was stopped by Gane in an interim heavyweight title bout at the UFC White House event. The loss marked a setback in Pereira's pursuit of a historic third championship belt.

In the aftermath of that defeat, Pereira launched a public campaign against referee Herb Dean, arguing that illegal shots to the back of the head went uncalled during the finish. While the Brazilian spent months scrutinizing Dean's officiating, he now appears ready to shift focus entirely toward redemption. On Instagram, Pereira announced his intention to secure a second fight with Gane, stating: "I think the fight that makes sense is Ciryl Gane. That's the fight. I'm going to work on that and from what I'm seeing, it's something that's going to happen."

Pereira emphasized that a rematch would give him the opportunity to reclaim his narrative and prove he can capture the heavyweight crown. "How the last fight ended, there were illegal shots," he said. "I think now with another opportunity I can come back and show what I can do, what I can achieve, which is the third belt."

The UFC has not officially confirmed Gane's next opponent. The promotion's original plan involved Gane unifying the interim title against reigning undisputed heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall once Aspinall recovered from injuries. However, Aspinall has been out for eleven months following accidental eye pokes from Gane that resulted in a no-contest in their first meeting. Though Aspinall has undergone multiple surgeries, UFC leadership and his management have indicated he remains unavailable. A Gane-Pereira rematch before year's end could materialise if Aspinall's return timeline extends further.