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As June arrives, French sports enter a truly special period.
In basketball, all eyes are on Victor Wembanyama, who has led his San Antonio Spurs to the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks, with Game 1 of the series set for Wednesday. Meanwhile, in football, the French national team will kick off their World Cup campaign later this month as one of the favorites to clinch a third world title.
In mixed martial arts, Ciryl Gane is poised to make history. On June 14th, he will feature in the co-main event of UFC Freedom 250 at the White House, facing former two-division champion Alex Pereira for the interim heavyweight title. It's hard to say which of these potential victories would be the most significant.
"I think holding the belt is something special," Gane told MMA Junkie on Monday.
To become interim champion for the second time, Gane (13-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) faces a formidable challenge in Pereira. The Brazilian, a former middleweight and light heavyweight champion, is attempting to become the first fighter in UFC history to win a belt in a third different division. Given the stakes, Gane revealed he did "something really different" during his training camp, though he doesn't anticipate any surprises from Pereira.
"He's a dangerous fighter, like everyone in the top 10," Gane said. "He has great hands. Everyone knows that. Everyone knows his skills. It's no surprise. The question is who will manage the fight better."
A unique aspect of this bout is its outdoor setting, on a makeshift arena on the South Lawn of the White House, during a period when Washington D.C. weather is notoriously hot and humid. This factor sparks "real curiosity" in Gane.
"I've never fought outdoors, so it will be special," Gane shared, who was still in Paris as of Monday. "That's why, when we arrive in Washington in a few days, we'll start training outside... Nobody likes the heat and humidity, so we need to be prepared for them."
Gane and Pereira are fighting for the interim heavyweight title because the match was arranged while undisputed champion Tom Aspinall was recovering from an eye injury caused by a poke from Gane last October. However, Aspinall's absence has recently also been attributed to a contract dispute.
Just a week ago, Aspinall's new agent, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, challenged Dana White and the UFC to release the fighter from his contract. This leaves Gane with mixed feelings about the status of his upcoming clash with Pereira.
"We'll see if anything happens before the fight," Gane said. "But for me, the feeling is, yes, it will be an interim belt, but the feeling will certainly be different. Firstly, because of my opponent – he's a huge champion. And also because of the nature of this event. I don't know how to say it, but the feeling will certainly be different..."
"This is a fighter's life. This is my goal, just to fight for this. I'm ready to sacrifice everything for it. This is my objective. I'm not looking for anything else. My mission is to win this belt."
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