Teixeira Offers Pereira Path To Gane Rematch

Glover Teixeira wants Alex Pereira to fight Josh Hokit on the way back to a heavyweight title shot.

Pereira dropped the interim heavyweight strap to Ciryl Gane at UFC White House earlier this month in a knockout loss that raised questions about his future at 265 pounds. Teixeira, who coaches the former two-division champion, told Ariel Helwani that Pereira is staying put at heavyweight despite the setback.

Hokit Called Out As Logical Next Opponent

As for who Pereira should face in his return, Teixeira floated the surging Hokit as a natural matchup. According to BJPenn.com, Teixeira said Hokit has been running his mouth and suggested Pereira should "go over there and knock his ass out and get back to the top." The winner would likely land a title shot, and the trash talk from Hokit provides a built-in storyline for a numbered card co-main event.

Pereira is 13-4 overall and holds former middleweight and heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight titles. He went 10-3 in the UFC before moving up to heavyweight, where he ran into the size and power of Gane in his first test at the weight.

Teixeira also confirmed Pereira wants to fight often but said the camp plans to take its time after a long stretch of back-to-back bookings. No timetable has been announced for Pereira's next appearance.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Glover Teixeira likes the idea of Alex Pereira facing Josh Hokit to earn another heavyweight title shot: ‘Knock his ass out’