Alex Pereira has insisted he wants to fight Ciryl Gane next after being knocked out by the Frenchman in their interim heavyweight UFC title fight last June.
Pereira, 39, was stopped by Gane in his bid to become the first three-weight champion in the UFC.
Speaking on social media, Pereira said that after a period of rest, he expected to get a rematch with the 36-year-old.
“I’m seeing many opinions but I think the fight that makes sense is Ciryl Gane,” he said.
“That’s the fight. I’m going to work on that and from what I’m seeing, it’s something that’s going to happen.
“How the last fight [ended], there were illegal shots. I think now with another opportunity I can come back and show what I can do, what I can achieve, which is the third belt.
“I’m very excited for that and I’ll work for that.”
Gane should fight UFC champion Tom Aspinall in what would be an undisputed contest next, but the Briton is still recovering from eye injuries sustained in his own fight against Gane almost a year ago.
Aspinall’s return date is unknown but he has been cleared to return to training and insisted he has no plans to leave the UFC or retire.
Should Aspinall be forced to sit out the rest of 2026, Gane may well take another bout in his absence.