Josh Hokit is having some fun at Alex Pereira’s expense following the fallout from UFC Freedom 250.
Both fighters competed on the historic UFC card held on the White House lawn, but their nights ended in very different ways. Pereira’s bid to become the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion fell short when he suffered a second-round TKO loss to Ciryl Gane in their interim heavyweight title clash.
Meanwhile, Josh Hokit continued his rapid rise through the heavyweight ranks. “The Incredible Hok” stopped Derrick Lewis in the second round to improve his professional record to 10-0 and further strengthen his case as one of the division’s fastest-rising contenders.
Since the defeat, Pereira has repeatedly criticized referee Herb Dean, arguing that illegal strikes to the back of his head played a major role in the stoppage. The former two-division champion has even suggested Dean should no longer officiate his fights and hinted that concerns over fighter safety could influence his future.
Josh Hokit, however, appears far less concerned. Taking to social media, the unbeaten heavyweight poked fun at Pereira’s complaints while calling for a future showdown with Gane.
“The Incredible Hok’s eyes would break Ciryl Gane’s fingers and the back of my head would shatter his elbow. I insist that Herb ref our fight.”
The post was a clear jab at the controversy surrounding Gane’s victory over Pereira and the criticism directed at Dean’s officiating.
Hokit didn’t stop there. He followed up with another tongue-in-cheek message about potentially fighting Gane on French soil.
“Fighting Gane in France is exciting, since I’ve never been to the Middle East before.”
The remark quickly gained attention from fans, adding another chapter to Hokit’s growing reputation for mixing humor with confidence outside the cage.
With the victory over Lewis, Josh Hokit emerged as one of the biggest winners from UFC Freedom 250. While he previously expressed interest in facing Pereira at Madison Square Garden later this year, his attention now appears to be shifting toward the heavyweight title picture.
Gane currently holds the interim heavyweight championship and is expected to pursue a title unification bout against undisputed champion Tom Aspinall. However, ongoing uncertainty surrounding Aspinall’s next move has left room for speculation about other contenders entering the conversation.
If circumstances change, Josh Hokit could find himself closer to a title opportunity than many expected.
For now, the undefeated heavyweight continues to build momentum both inside and outside the Octagon.
