Josh Hokit blasts Alex Pereira after the former two-division UFC champion publicly pushed for a rematch with interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane.
Pereira recently stated that a second fight with Gane is the matchup that makes the most sense for his return. However, Hokit believes the Brazilian has done nothing to justify another title opportunity after suffering a stoppage loss to Gane at UFC Freedom 250.
The rising heavyweight contender did not hold back on social media, questioning why Pereira should receive another shot at championship gold without first earning a win at heavyweight.
“As a fan, that fight makes no f—— sense,” Hokit wrote. “I watched you get demolished. How about a more favorable matchup like Sergei Pavlovich, who is basically a striker and way less athletic than Ciryl? How about you get one f—— win in this weight class before you are gifted another title shot?”
Hokit also took aim at the UFC’s broader title picture, arguing that neither Pereira nor former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria deserves an immediate championship opportunity after suffering decisive defeats earlier this year.
“Growing up, I loved the UFC and all of its fighters,” Hokit wrote. “So it gives me great pleasure to use my platform today to speak the truth: neither Ilia Topuria nor Alex Pereira deserve a f—— title shot in their next fight. They both got handily destroyed. Make them earn it and fight their way back like everyone else.”
Hokit has quickly emerged as one of the hottest names in the heavyweight division. The undefeated contender believes he is the most deserving option to face Gane if undisputed champion Tom Aspinall remains sidelined.
The heavyweight standout suggested that ongoing delays surrounding a title unification bout are more about business than injury concerns.
According to Hokit, the UFC should book him against Gane at Madison Square Garden later this year, while Pereira faces a top-ranked contender such as Sergei Pavlovich.
“Nobody wants to see Alex get beat by Gane again,” Hokit said. “If the UFC books me versus Alex, Eddie holds the UFC by the balls and drags negotiations out forever because I’m the only viable fight left for Gane that brings real eyes.”
While Hokit would gladly fight Pereira, he made it clear that a title fight remains his priority.
“Hell, I’d rather see Alex fight me too,” Hokit wrote. “Truth is, like most contracts, there’s a championship clause. I make a lot more money fighting for that belt than taking a regular fight with him.”
The undefeated heavyweight also expressed supreme confidence in a potential clash with Pereira, insisting he would welcome the matchup under any circumstances.
“I’ll fight this motherf—– in a parking lot tomorrow,” Hokit said. “I would have fought him for free at the press conference in New Jersey. He can’t beat me. But I deserve the title shot if Tom ain’t coming back, and I’d rather make as much money as possible when I do fight.”
Hokit further dismissed comparisons between Pereira’s wrestling defense and the elite wrestling pedigree found among top heavyweight contenders.
