Overview
- Francis Ngannou, speaking Tuesday in an interview with Helen Yee, said he favors Ciryl Gane over Alex Pereira in their interim heavyweight title fight.
- UFC booked Gane vs. Pereira for June 14 on the White House South Lawn for the interim belt, with Pereira seeking a championship in a third weight class.
- Ngannou argued Gane has more tools and lighter-footed movement that could trouble Pereira as he moves up from light heavyweight.
- Another insider voice, former Glory champion Artem Vakhitov, recently leaned 70–30 toward Gane after working with the French heavyweight in camp.
- Ngannou’s view carries weight because he beat Gane by unanimous decision at UFC 270 in 2022, and he is next slated to face Philipe Lins on May 16 on MVP’s Netflix card.