The Daniel Cormier Show - Ciryl Gane on Alex Pereira title fight at White House, Tom Aspinall rematch

The Herd with Colin Cowherd13mJune 11, 2026
AI-Generated Summary

Ciryl Gane enters the UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship fight against Alex Pereira at the White House with a rare blend of confidence, humility, and quiet defiance. Far from being intimidated by Pereira’s historic ambitions or Dana White’s 'Greatest of All Time' hype, Gane embraces being the overlooked underdog — a mindset he calls his greatest motivator. He reflects on his hard-fought journey, having earned every title shot through wins over top contenders like Tom Aspinall, and dismisses the pressure of past losses, including Jon Jones' victory, which he says didn’t cost him the belt — the UFC gave it back. Now, fighting on the world’s most iconic stage, Gane admits the surreal honor of the White House venue leaves him momentarily awestruck, even jealous of fighters who’ve experienced it. But his focus remains razor-sharp: he’s not chasing legacy or statues, only the fight, the belt, and proving he belongs at the top. The episode ends on a playful note, with a three-point shootout challenge between Gane and host Daniel Cormier — a moment that captures the fighter’s charisma and competitive fire beyond the octagon.

Key Takeaways
1

Gane thrives as the underdog, using being overlooked as fuel rather than pressure.

2

He earned every title shot through wins over top contenders like Tom Aspinall and Spivak.

3

After losing to Jon Jones, the UFC returned the belt — a moment Gane calls 'crazy' and highlights his resilience.

4

Fighting at the White House is a once-in-a-lifetime honor he admits to being jealous of.

5

Gane’s focus is not on legacy or statues — only on winning the fight and becoming champion.

…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus

Chapters
8:07
2 min

Gane on Being the Underdog

I'm really OK with that. This is this is a type of motivation for me.

Highlight
10:13
2 min

Gane’s Fight with Tom Aspinall

I feel something like more and more I started to be really more comfortable during this round because I got some sign from him like yes he tried first time to make me down.

Highlight
12:53
2 min

Pressure and Legacy

I'm not looking for the opinion of the people outside — sorry, it's not outside, it's Dana White or — Mr. Donald Trump or stuff like that.

Highlight
14:51
2 min

Pereira and the White House Fight

Gane analyzes Pereira’s style and the historic significance of fighting at the White House, admitting he’s jealous of past fighters who’ve done it.

17:32
2 min

The Final Challenge

The episode closes with a lighthearted three-point shootout challenge between Gane and Cormier, underscoring Gane’s competitive spirit.

High-Impact Quotes
I'm not looking for seriously, I'm not looking for the opinion of the people outside sorry, it's not outside, it's Dana White or Mr. Donald Trump or stuff like that, but I'm not about the opinion of the people to be...
Ciryl Gane14:31
And yeah I feel something like more and more I started to be really more comfortable during this round because I got some sign from him like yes he tried first time to make me down.
Ciryl Gane11:22
I'm really OK with that. This is this is a type of motivation for me.
Ciryl Gane8:47
Speakers

Host

Daniel Cormier

Guest

Ciryl Gane
Topics Discussed
ufc-interim-heavyweight-championship95%white-house-fight90%ciryl-gane90%fighting-at-the-white-house88%alex-pereira85%tom-aspinall-rematch80%underdog-motivation75%ufc-legacy70%
People & Brands

Ciryl Gane

person

12xNeutral

Alex Pereira

person

8xNeutral

Daniel Cormier

person

6xNeutral

Tom Aspinall

person

6xNeutral

White House

place

5xPositive

Dana White

person

3xNeutral

Jon Jones

person

3xNeutral

UFC Freedom 250

other

2xNeutral

Hard Rock Bet

brand

2xNeutral

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