Werdum and JDS split on how Pereira beats Gane for interim UFC heavyweight title

Fabricio Werdum and Junior dos Santos are united in picking Alex Pereira to claim the interim UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at the UFC White House card on Sunday, but the two former champions part ways on exactly how “Poatan” gets it done.

Gane and Pereira have drawn even odds heading into their co-main event bout, generating debate that rivals — and in some corners surpasses — the main event between Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria, where Topuria enters as a heavy favourite.

Dos Santos speaks from direct experience against Gane, having been stopped by the Frenchman via elbow strikes at UFC 256 in December 2020. “Cigano” believes Pereira’s relentless forward pressure and one-punch power will prove decisive. “I think [Pereira’s] style will complicate [Gane],” dos Santos said. “Alex goes on the offensive mode all the time, always cutting angles, circling and gradually breaking down his opponents. Gane moves well backwards, but once ‘Poatan’ cuts angles very well, they must collide, and when it happens, ‘Poatan’ has the advantage of having one-punch knockout power.”

Dos Santos also framed the fight as a historic opportunity, adding: “I believe he will win and make history by being the first athlete to be champion in three different divisions.”

Werdum, however, sees a different and arguably more efficient route to victory. Pointing to how Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones exposed Gane’s grappling vulnerabilities, the former heavyweight champion urged Pereira to use the ground game he has been developing alongside Glover Teixeira. “They are both great strikers — if ‘Poatan’ decides to exchange punches it can be a chess match with Ciryl having more chances to surprise,” Werdum said. “I saw ‘Poatan’ training on the ground with Glover and he clearly evolved his ground skills, so in my opinion he should expose Ciryl like Ngannou and Jones did. If ‘Poatan’ believes in his jiu-jitsu skills, he will be able to submit Gane.”

Werdum was pointed in his assessment of Gane’s mental fortitude under pressure, referencing the Jones defeat as evidence. “‘Poatan’ can win standing up, but if he takes Gane to the ground, he will make it easier.”

The fight represents Pereira’s debut at heavyweight after previously holding titles at middleweight and light heavyweight. A win would make him the first fighter in UFC history to capture championships across three separate weight classes.