As the calendar turns to June, a special time in French sports has arrived.
In basketball, the spotlight will shine on Victor Wembanyama after he led the San Antonio Spurs to the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks, with Game 1 set to tip off Wednesday. And in soccer, the French national team will kick off the FIFA World Cup later this month as the co-favorite to claim its third championship.
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Then in mixed martial arts, as if there isn’t enough excitement for French sports fans already, Ciryl Gane will partake in history when, on June 14, he co-headlines UFC Freedom 250 at the White House against former two-division champion Alex Pereira for the interim heavyweight title. Is there an easy pick for which championship victory would matter the most?
“I think to have the belt is something special,” Gane told MMA Junkie on Monday.
For Gane (13-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) to become a two-time interim champ, he faces a tough task in Pereira, the former middleweight and light heavyweight campion trying to become the first fighter in UFC history to claim a belt in a third division. Given the challenge in front of him, Gane said he “did something really different” during his training camp even though he doesn’t expect any surprises from Pereira.
“He’s a dangerous fighter like everyone in the top 10,” Gane said. “He has great hands. Everybody knows that. Everybody knows his skills. It’s not a surprise. The question is who will manage the fight the best.”
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A wrinkle for this fight in particular is that it’s taking place outdoors in a makeshift arena on the South Lawn of the White House at a time when Washington D.C. weather is notorious for being hot and humid. That element has Gane “really curious.”
“I’ve never fought outdoors, so it’s gonna be special,” said Gane, who was still in Paris as of Monday. “That’s why when we arrive in a few days in Washington, we’re going to start training outside. … Nobody enjoys hot and humid a little bit, so that’s why we have to be prepared for it.”
Gane and Pereira are fighting for the interim heavyweight title as the fight was booked while undisputed champion Tom Aspinall recovered his eye injury caused by a Gane poke last October. More recently, though, a contract dispute has come into play as a reason for an Aspinall layoff.
Just last week, Aspinall’s new agent, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, dared Dana White and the UFC to release Aspinall from his deal, which has Gane feeling a certain away about the status of his showdown with Pereira.
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“We will see if something happens before the fight,” Gane said. “But for me, the feeling is yes, it’s gonna be an interim belt, but the feeling is gonna be different for sure. At first because of my opponent; he’s a huge champion. And because also the type of this event. I don’t know how to say, but the feeling is gonna be different for sure. …
“This is the life of a fighter. This is my target, just fighting for this. I’m ready to sacrifice just for this. This is my target. I’m not looking for anything else. My mission is to win this belt.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC White House: Ciryl Gane shrugs off distractions
