Alex Pereira Alleges UFC Manipulated Narrative Regarding Gane vs. Hokit Matchup

Alex Pereira expressed disagreement with the UFC’s decision to book Ciryl Gane against Josh Hokit for the vacant undisputed heavyweight title at UFC 334 on November 14. Following his June loss to Gane for the interim belt, the former champion sought an immediate rematch but was bypassed by the promotion. Pereira stated he was told by the organization that polling data supported the selection of Hokit as the next challenger.

In a recent interview, Pereira alleged that the UFC orchestrated public opinion by encouraging commentators and influencers, including Daniel Cormier, to praise the matchup before it was officially finalized. Pereira questioned the promotional push for Hokit, citing his limited experience in the UFC compared to other contenders. While noting his personal friendship with Cormier, Pereira characterized the former champion's endorsement of the fight as nonsensical. Pereira is scheduled to co-headline the December 12 event in Las Vegas against Sergei Pavlovich.