Alex Pereira says Josh Hokit went quiet without security nearby

Alex Pereira claims Josh Hokit's bravado disappeared when they ran into each other without security present ahead of last month's UFC White House press conference.

Pereira faces Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title in the co-main event of UFC White House: Freedom 250 on June 14, while Hokit meets Derrick Lewis on the same card. During a May press conference in New Jersey, Hokit launched into an unprovoked tirade aimed at Pereira, prompting Ilia Topuria to throw a glass of water at the undefeated American. Hokit was escorted out before the situation escalated further.

Pereira: Mother insults cross Brazilian street code

Speaking to Ariel Helwani, Pereira said Hokit crossed a line when he said "I will chama on your mama" during the confrontation. The Brazilian explained that in his country's street culture, bringing up someone's mother is the ultimate provocation. "I've seen guys trash-talk the fighter, the father of the fighter, trash-talk whatever, but never trash-talk the mother," Pereira said. "I don't know how it's in America, but in Brazil, on the street code, you never talk about the mother."

Pereira noted that earlier on the day of the press conference, he and Hokit crossed paths without cameras or security nearby. According to the former heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight champion, he said "Chama" to Hokit from about three feet away. "He just looked, turned around, and kept going," Pereira said. "It's easy to say when there's a lot of security around there, people to stop anything from happening."

Hokit has been banned from the official UFC White House press conference scheduled for June 12 in front of the Lincoln Memorial, though Sherdog reports he could still attempt to stir trouble during fight week.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Alex Pereira: Josh Hokit wasn’t so tough without security around