Dana White: Alex Pereira one win from GOAT status

Dana White said that two-weight UFC champion Alex Pereira is just one victory away from becoming the greatest fighter of all time, as the Brazilian prepares for a historic step up to heavyweight.

Pereira is set to face Ciryl Gane for the UFC interim heavyweight championship on 14 June at UFC Freedom 250, an event scheduled to take place at the White House.

A win would see Pereira make history as the first fighter to become a three-division champion in UFC competition.

White believes such an achievement would move Pereira above long-reigning light-heavyweight great Jon Jones in the sport’s all-time rankings.

“If he wins the third world title that night, he jumps over Jon Jones and becomes the greatest of all time,” White said.

Pereira, who previously enjoyed success as a two-weight champion in Glory kickboxing, has experienced a rapid rise in mixed martial arts since joining the UFC in 2021.

He won the middleweight title in 2022 by defeating Israel Adesanya before moving up to light heavyweight, where he also claimed championship gold.

Earlier this year, Pereira vacated his 205-pound title as he prepared for a move to heavyweight.

The winner of the interim title bout is expected to position themselves as the next challenger for undisputed heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.

However, Aspinall is currently recovering from eye injuries sustained in his last fight, while his manager, Eddie Hearn, has suggested he is seeking to renegotiate the fighter’s UFC contract.