Overview
- Alexander Volkov said the Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane matchup for an interim belt is a promotional play rather than a real championship fight.
- Volkov argued Pereira would be an easier opponent for him than Gane and questioned Pereira’s cardio at a higher weight, citing photos that suggest water-heavy bulk.
- Pereira has been sparring with larger heavyweights, including 6'7" Brazilian Tallison Teixeira, and he acknowledged that adding size has not been easy on his body.
- Training footage shows both camps focused on movement and range, with Gane bringing in former GLORY champion Artem Vakhitov to sharpen timing against a kickboxer of Pereira’s style.
- The interim title fills the gap left by injured champion Tom Aspinall, and Volkov faces Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC 328 in Newark as he works to keep his place in the heavyweight title picture.