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Gane KO’s Pereira, Wins Interim Title at Trump’s Birthday Celebration

6/15/2026

25 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Ciryl Gane won the interim heavyweight title by TKO in round 2 on June 14, 2026 at the House Lawn in Washington, DC during President Donald Trump’s 80th-birthday celebration.
He dropped Alex Pereira before referee Herb Dean stopped the bout, ending Pereira's three-division title bid.
The victory lines Gane up for a fight with Tom Aspinall in 2026, with payouts estimated at $1-1.5 million for Gane and $8-10 million for Pereira.

History

Historical Context

UFC 1, co-created by Art Davie and Rorion Gracie, debuted on 12 November 1993 in Denver with an eight-man tournament and nearly 90,000 pay-per-view buys, introducing the octagon and “no-holds-barred” format. The sport’s rise culminated in Ciryl Gane’s interim heavyweight TKO on 14 June 2026, a headline event that illustrates MMA’s shift from fringe spectacle to mainstream championship.

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Story summary

Ciryl Gane won the interim heavyweight title by TKO in round 2 on June 14, 2026 at the House Lawn in Washington, DC during President Donald Trump’s 80th-birthday celebration.
He dropped Alex Pereira before referee Herb Dean stopped the bout, ending Pereira's three-division title bid.
The victory lines Gane up for a fight with Tom Aspinall in 2026, with payouts estimated at $1-1.5 million for Gane and $8-10 million for Pereira.

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