UFC interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane defeats Alex Pereira by stoppage in the UFC Freedom 250 co-main event, winning the interim world title for the second time and setting up a rematch with full champion Tom Aspinall. Following the fight, multiple reports describe controversy over whether Gane landed illegal blows. Aspinall publicly reacts to the stoppage, saying there were “a lot of illegal elbows” and accusing Gane of throwing illegal shots during the bout. Additional claims in the coverage also reference fouls including illegal elbows and pokes. One report notes that Gane appears to land numerous illegal blows before the stoppage and that Aspinall had been poked in the eye during the fight. Another report emphasizes Aspinall’s reaction focused on elbows specifically. Despite the criticism, Gane’s victory is described as the result that creates the next storyline for the division: a meeting between Gane and Aspinall. Aspinall also accepts an invitation discussed in coverage to meet again in Paris in September.