Alex Pereira Claims UFC Manipulated Push for Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit

Former two-division champion Alex Pereira campaigned for an immediate rematch against Ciryl Gane after falling short in June, but the promotion instead booked Gane against Josh Hokit for the heavyweight title. The matchup is set to headline UFC 334 on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Pereira is slated to co-headline the subsequent numbered event on Dec. 12 against Sergei Pavlovich in Las Vegas.

Gane secured a second-round knockout over Pereira for the interim belt at the UFC White House card in June. On that same night, Hokit extended his promotional record to 4-0. Despite the loss, Pereira insisted on staying in the heavyweight division to chase a third title, but the UFC informed him they were moving in a different direction for the championship bout.

Speaking to MMA Fighting, Pereira claimed the UFC used commentators with substantial followings, such as Daniel Cormier, to steer public opinion toward Gane vs. Hokit. Pereira questioned Cormier's assertions that Hokit was the best matchup for the belt, arguing that the promotion coordinated the narrative before making the official announcement.

"It was all kind of manipulated, you know?" Pereira said. "I saw some things even before they made the announcement, with Cormier and other guys saying it was going to be a good fight... They’re trying to influence people into thinking this would be the best fight.

I think that’s the only explanation, man. Either that, or the guy’s kind of crazy."