Ciryl Gane reclaimed the UFC interim heavyweight crown on Sunday, stopping Alex Pereira by TKO at 1:27 of round two at UFC Freedom 250. The French striker opened with precise jabs, then unleashed a barrage of elbows and punches that forced the former two‑division champion to collapse against the cage in front of a packed Las Vegas crowd. The victory marks Gane’s second interim title, the first earned in 2021.

All three heavyweight stalwarts—Francis Ngannou, Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall—have faced Gane, yet he entered the bout 0‑2 with one no‑contest against them. Pereira, who vacated his 205‑pound belt to bulk up to 251, hoped to become the first three‑weight champion, but the risk backfired as he could not recover from the second‑round onslaught, and his power proved decisive.

Gane praised his team and family after the win, hinting at a possible September showdown in Paris. Aspinall remains sidelined after eye‑poke surgery, leaving the undisputed belt vacant and sparking speculation about the next challenger. For now, Gane stands alone as the division’s interim champion, solidifying his claim as the only heavyweight to have tested every top‑ranked opponent. The UFC will now set a date.