The highly anticipated UFC White House event, officially billed as UFC Freedom 250, is already making headlines for its historic setting. Scheduled to take place this Sunday on the South Lawn of the White House, the event is expected to be unlike anything the promotion has staged before. The financial stakes for the promotion’s biggest star are also setting massive financial benchmarks.
In a recent video, UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier casually revealed that Alex Pereira is walking away with an eight-figure payday for his appearance on the card.
The disclosure came directly from Pereira’s own YouTube channel. In a video titled POATAN: The Champion’s Routine Before the White House, Pereira and Cormier can be seen sharing a relaxed conversation that eventually shifted toward soccer and potential bets on the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
As the discussion turned to who actually had the bankroll to place massive sports wagers, Cormier pointed at the Brazilian knockout artist and let a massive detail slip regarding his fight purse.
Referring to the former two-division UFC champion, Cormier said:
“He is the only one fighter in the White House making 10 million dollars. He is the only fighter in the White House making 10 million, Not me.” (Timestamp: 9:14-9:21)
Pereira smiled after the comment and did not confirm or deny the figure as the conversation continued.
At UFC Freedom 250, the Brazilian star will move up to the heavyweight division to face former interim champion Ciryl Gane for the Interim Heavyweight Title. The strap was vacant as the undisputed champion Tom Aspinall recovers from double eye surgery.
Daniel Cormier’s $10 Million Remark Highlights Alex Pereira’s Standing in the UFC
The UFC keeps official fighter payouts and contract details strictly confidential. While Cormier made the comment casually, it carries weight. Daniel Cormier’s insider status and close working relationship with the promotion’s executives give serious credibility to his remark.
If the $10 million figure is accurate, it would place Pereira in a financial bracket among elites. Historically, only Conor McGregor and a handful of other fighters have reportedly commanded a similar level of base compensation.
After arriving in the UFC from the kickboxing world, POATAN rapidly developed into one of the promotion’s biggest attractions. Victories over fighters such as Jiri Prochazka, Jamahal Hill, and Jan Blachowicz helped establish him as a pay-per-view draw capable of carrying major events.
This Sunday, June 14, Pereira will attempt to add another historic achievement to his résumé when he takes on former interim champion Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC Freedom 250.
A victory would make “Poatan” the first fighter in UFC history to win championships in three different weight classes, having already captured titles at middleweight and light heavyweight. Factoring in this massive three-division record attempt and the sheer scale of the White House event, an eight-figure payout makes complete business sense.
