Daniel Cormier reveals UFC White House salary of Alex Pereira

During a backstage interview at UFC Freedom 250, former two-division champion Daniel Cormier and fellow ex-two-weight titleholder Alex Pereira made an inadvertent public revelation about fighter compensation. The conversation began casually when Pereira's coach Plinio Cruz, wearing a Brazilian national football team shirt, sparked talk of the World Cup. Cormier suggested a friendly wager on whether the U.S. or Brazil would advance further in the tournament.

Cormier opened with a $5,000 bet, but Pereira countered with $20,000. When Cormier hesitated at the higher amount, he blurted out that Pereira is expected to earn $10 million for competing at the White House event—a figure that likely would have remained confidential. Pereira took the disclosure in stride, smiling and agreeing to a $10,000 wager with the stipulation that the winner donate the amount to charity.

Pereira steps into the interim heavyweight title fight against Ciryl Gane on Sunday at the White House, seeking to make UFC history as the first three-division champion in the promotion. While ONE Championship's Anatoly Malykhin holds claims to being the first across three weight classes (205, 225, and 265 pounds) in a major organization, a Pereira victory would mark an unprecedented achievement exclusively within the UFC's ranks.