Hokit Tells Pereira To Earn His Shot After Gane Loss

Josh Hokit tore into Alex Pereira over the weekend for seeking an immediate title rematch with Ciryl Gane, arguing the Brazilian has done nothing to earn a second chance at heavyweight.

Pereira recently posted on social media that he wants to run it back with Gane, who stopped him via technical knockout at UFC Freedom 250 earlier this year. The callout drew a sharp response from Hokit, who questioned why someone coming off a lopsided loss should skip the line. "As a fan, that fight makes no sense," Hokit wrote on X, per Sherdog. "I watched you get demolished. How about a more favorable matchup like Sergei who is basically a striker and way less athletic than Ciryl. How about you get one win in this weight class before you are gifted another title shot."

Hokit Questions Pereira's Wrestling Credentials

Hokit went further in a second post, dismissing the notion that Pereira has proven himself against high-level grapplers. The American contender pointed to Pereira's knockout of Magomed Ankalaev last year to reclaim the heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight title, but said Ankalaev's Sambo and Greco-Roman background does not compare to elite freestyle wrestling. Hokit claimed he ragdolled Denzell Freeman, the fourth-ranked US Olympic Greco wrestler, with pure pressure and that Pereira has never faced a true NCAA or Olympic-level wrestler.

Hokit suggested Gane will take the easier payday against Pereira rather than a tougher stylistic puzzle. He also claimed Gane's brother and trainer told him backstage at a recent event that he sees Hokit as the next UFC heavyweight champion, adding that the team likely advised Gane to push for the Pereira rematch over other contenders.

Pereira has not announced his next move since the Gane loss. Hokit remains unbooked after his most recent Octagon appearance.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Alex Pereira’s Ciryl Gane rematch demand sparks brutal Josh Hokit tirade