Pereira claims UFC used influencers to promote Gane-Hokit matchup

Alex Pereira, who lost to Ciryl Gane in an interim heavyweight title fight in June, said the promotion chose to pair Gane with Josh Hokit for UFC 334 instead of granting him a rematch. Pereira explained that the UFC informed him a fan poll had been conducted and that the organization had decided on the Gane-Hokit fight.

"Okay, I didn’t agree with it, but they’re the ones in charge. It was all kind of manipulated, you know? I saw some things even before they made the announcement, with Cormier and other guys saying it was going to be a good fight," Pereira told interviewer Laerte Viana.

He added that the UFC asked influencers with large followings, such as former champion Daniel Cormier, to endorse the bout, hoping their statements would sway audience perception.

"When I ask [Cormier], ‘If I become champion by beating Gane, will I be the champion?’ He said, ‘Man, I don’t think so,’" Pereira said, describing Cormier’s comments as inconsistent.

Pereira, a former middleweight and light-heavyweight champion who remains at heavyweight to chase a third title, noted that Hokit recently improved to 4-0 with a knockout of Derrick Lewis, while Tom Aspinall stays out with an eye injury. The Gane-Hokit fight will determine the undisputed heavyweight champion.