Daniel Cormier and Dana White Responds to Alex Pereira for Making Claims About Role in Josh Hokit’s Title Shot

Dana White and Daniel Cormier shuts down conspiracy theory about UFC 334 title challenger Josh Hokit from Alex Pereira.

Daniel Cormier and Dana White Responds to Alex Pereira for Making Claims About Role in Josh Hokit’s Title Shot

Daniel Cormier and Dana White responds to Alex Pereira (Image via MMA Fighting)

Alex Pereira has not been in a good mood since his controversial TKO loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250. Now, he faces Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335 while Gane defends the heavyweight title at UFC 334. Pereira discussed the matchmaking process and fired shots at Daniel Cormier in the process.

Pereira recently spoke with Laerte Viana about Josh Hokit getting the title shot instead of him at UFC 334. ‘Poatan’ believed that the promotion used Cormier among others to push for Gane vs Hokit instead of him rematching the Frenchman.

It’s all kind of manipulated. I saw before the announcement that Cormier and other guys saying that it will be a good fight. Hey go ahead, say that this fight is good so that when we drop it, the public will be okay with it and agree with you. I think they did everything there to make people believe that this should be the fight. I [asked Cormier] if I defeat Ciryl Gane, am I the champion? He said I don’t think so. So the guy has opinions that don’t make sense.

Alex Pereira told Laerte Viana

Daniel Cormier often gets criticized for his commentary by the fans and fighters. Alex Pereira became the latest fighter to criticize him. At the same time, Cormier defended himself from the accusation.

I was not told by the UFC to promote this as the fight to happen… I’m honest. Like, I don’t lie to these guys. I don’t sugarcoat to these guys.

Daniel Cormier said on his YouTube Channel

‘DC’ and Pereira have formed some sort of a friendship in recent times with their antics backstage. Hence, many fans were confused by Pereira name-calling Cormier.

Later, Dana White gave clarity on the matter during this week’s Contender Series post-fight presser. The UFC boss stated paranoia may have prompted the fighter’s accusation.

These guys are the most paranoid people on the planet. I never told Rogan, DC or any of those guys to say anything about anybody. We don’t operate like that. As a longtime fan, I actually can’t stand it when commentators say negative things about fighters, but I don’t tell anyone what to say.

Dana White said

In the past, DC has defended Alex Pereira when every kept criticizing his wins by saying that ‘Poatan’ hadn’t fought a legit wrestler. White also defended the Brazilian superstar after fans accused him of whining about referee Herb Dean. It remains to be seen if Pereira will backtrack on the matter.

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Daniel Cormier explains why Alex Pereira wouldn’t have gotten the title shot

Tom Aspinall vacating the undisputed heavyweight title sparked a chain of movements in the division. Gane was promoted as the new undisputed champion and the promotion booked him to fight Hokit in November. Meanwhile, other matchups were made to keep the division moving.

Josh Hokit and Alex Pereira with Daniel Cormier inside the circle
Josh Hokit and Alex Pereira with Daniel Cormier inside the circle (Image via MMA Fighting/YouTube)

Alex Pereira badly wanted to face Gane to take revenge. However, the promotion wanted a fresh matchup for the title. As such, they gave undefeated 10-0 Josh Hokit the title shot.

Daniel Cormier defended that decision on his YouTube channel and admitted that there was another fighter that could have gotten the title shot over Pereira.

Alexander Volkov is the dark horse of the heavyweight division. Back in 2024, he fought Gane in a rematch at UFC 310. It was among the controversial decisions of that year as many thought Volkov did enough to get the win. However, Gane was awarded the win.

Back then, Dana White offered to make it up to Volkov for the robbery decision. That didn’t happen yet. Nevertheless, Volkov is on a two-fight winning streak and could have fought Gane at UFC 334 if he wasn’t facing Rizvan Kuniev this month at UFC 333.

Timing is everything in the UFC. Cormier logically defended UFC’s reason to give Hokit the title shot. Meanwhile, Pereira will have to defeat Pavlovich in December to have any chance to get a future title fight in the heavyweight division.

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