Updated

Updated · CBS Sports · Jun 12

Topuria Opens at -520 Over Gaethje as UFC Freedom 250 Brings 2 Title Fights to White House

Updated

Updated · CBS Sports · Jun 12

Topuria Opens at -520 Over Gaethje as UFC Freedom 250 Brings 2 Title Fights to White House

Q: Beyond making history, what is the true prize for Alex Pereira in his risky bid for a third UFC title?

The real prize for Alex Pereira is not just a place in the record book, but a major leap into the UFC’s all-time-great debate. If Pereira beats Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250, he would become the first fighter in UFC history to win championships in three divisions. That kind of achievement would move him beyond being a two-division star and into a much rarer category of legacy. Analysts and fighters have framed that as the kind of win that could push Pereira into serious GOAT conversation, alongside names such as Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, Jon Jones and Khabib Nurmagomedov. The stakes are especially high because this is a risky move. Pereira is jumping to heavyweight against a mobile, proven contender in Gane, whose footwork and size present a very different challenge from the divisions Pereira has already conquered. That danger is part of the reward: if he succeeds, the win would carry unusual weight because it would show his power and striking can translate all the way up the scale. There is also a practical upside. A third title would make Pereira an even bigger attraction for future superfights and title defenses, strengthening his leverage and market value. But the larger payoff is legacy. In a sport where greatness is often measured by how much history a fighter can bend, Pereira’s true prize is the chance to become a one-of-one figure in UFC history.

3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Jun 12

CBS Sports’ panel unanimously picked Ilia Topuria to stop Justin Gaethje, with all five experts forecasting a knockout or TKO in the White House main event.
DraftKings listed Topuria at -520 against Gaethje at +390 for the undisputed lightweight title, making the champion the clearest favorite on a card built around two championship bouts.
The co-main event was far tighter: Ciryl Gane stood at -115 and Alex Pereira at -105 for the vacant interim heavyweight belt, while four of five CBS analysts still backed Pereira.
Beyond the title fights, Sean O’Malley was a unanimous staff pick over Aiemann Zahabi, and Josh Hokit, Mauricio Ruffy and Diego Lopes also drew broad support on the main card.
UFC Freedom 250 is set for Sunday on the South Lawn of the White House, giving the event an unusual venue and a made-for-history backdrop.