Pereira On UFC 334 Hokit 'Robbery'

Alex Pereira thought Josh Hokit beat Ciryl Gane at UFC 334.

The former heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight champion, who once called Hokit a disrespectful name during fight week, changed his tune after watching the New Zealand challenger nearly dethrone Gane at Madison Square Garden. Gane took the unanimous decision 48-47 on all three cards, but Pereira called it a robbery backstage. "I thought Hokit won the fight, for sure," he told reporters, per MMA Mania. "Gane didn't do anything. I wanted Gane to win, but come on. Not like that."

🎟️ Get tickets: Buy tickets to UFC 334 on Ticketmaster →

Pereira Seeks Out Hokit After Fight

Pereira posted on Instagram with a mock police call about the decision, then tracked down Hokit in the arena to congratulate him. His translator told the challenger Pereira thought he won and now respects him. The moment caps a fight week that saw the two heavyweights clash at a hotel, with Hokit shouting at Pereira during a chance run-in.

Whether that respect holds through Hokit's usual trash talk remains to be seen. Dana White has said a Pereira-Hokit matchup would be massive, though Pereira first faces Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335. Both Gane and Hokit were transported to hospital following their five-round war.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Alex Pereira respects Josh Hokit after UFC 334 ‘robbery’ — ‘I thought he won for sure’