Alex Pereira has mocked Ciryl Gane following the Frenchman’s promotion to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion after Tom Aspinall officially vacated the title due to injury.

Gane was elevated from interim champion after Aspinall relinquished the belt on Monday. Aspinall had been sidelined since suffering injuries to both eyes during his fight with Gane at UFC 321 last October, which ended in a no-contest following an accidental eye-poke.

“Champion,” said Pereira in a post on Instagram, accompanied by three laughing emojis. The former two-division UFC champion shared a graphic highlighting Gane’s previous title fight defeats to Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones, as well as his controversial victory over Alexander Volkov.

The graphic also referenced Pereira’s own defeat to Gane at UFC White House, where Gane claimed the interim heavyweight title with a knockout victory. Pereira has since disputed aspects of the result, claiming that illegal strikes to the back of the head contributed to the finish.

The UFC has yet to announce Gane’s first defence as undisputed champion, with Pereira and Volkov among the potential contenders for a title opportunity. Undefeated heavyweight Josh Hokit could also enter consideration as the promotion determines its next championship matchup.

Gane’s promotion follows an unexpected period of change at the top of the heavyweight division, with Aspinall’s injury bringing his title reign to an end and leaving the UFC to establish a new challenger for the newly elevated champion.