Alex Pereira to earn $10 million at UFC White House event
Alex Pereira will pocket $10 million for his heavyweight debut at UFC Freedom 250 this weekend, making him the highest-paid fighter on the White House card.
Daniel Cormier disclosed the figure during a backstage interview with Pereira, as MMA Mania first reported. The former double champion was negotiating a World Cup bet with the Brazilian when the number slipped out. "Hold on," Cormier said after Pereira raised the stakes to $20,000. "I'm not making $10 million to fight at the White House."
Pereira chases three-division history at Freedom 250
The payout reflects what Pereira stands to accomplish Sunday. The former middleweight and heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight champion faces Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title, a chance to become the first fighter in UFC history to hold belts across three weight classes. Cormier and Pereira eventually settled on a $10,000 wager tied to the World Cup, with the loser donating to charity, per Sherdog.
No other fighter on the card is expected to approach Pereira's purse. Cormier mentioned the $10 million total while trying to convince Pereira to lower the bet amount, saying flatly that the Brazilian was the only combatant at Freedom 250 reaching eight figures.
UFC Freedom 250 takes place Sunday on the White House lawn in Washington, with main card coverage starting at 10 p.m. ET.
Original reporting:
Get Ringside Updates
Fight announcements, results, and analysis delivered to your inbox. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.