Undefeated UFC heavyweight Josh Hokit has savaged Alex Pereira’s call for another title shot against Ciryl Gane, declaring that the proposed rematch makes “no f***ing sense”.
Pereira wants to run it back with Gane after his bid to become the UFC’s first three-division champion came unstuck at June’s historic White House card.
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The Brazilian has repeatedly claimed illegal blows to the back of his head contributed to the finish, while also launching a public campaign against referee Herb Dean over his handling of the fight.
Now, after taking some time away from the sport, ‘Poatan’ says he is ready to move forward – and believes settling the score with Gane is the only fight that makes sense.
“After much time, after resting what I needed to do, after much work, after my last fight, many people are talking [about] who Alex will fight,” Pereira said in a video posted to Instagram.
“I’m seeing many opinions, but I think the fight that makes sense is Ciryl Gane.
“That’s the fight. I’m going to work on that and, from what I’m seeing, it’s something that’s going to happen.
“How the last fight ended, there were illegal shots. I think now, with another opportunity, I can come back and show what I can do, what I can achieve – which is the third belt.
“I’m very excited for that and I’ll work for that. Chama!”
The UFC is yet to announce Gane’s next opponent, with the interim heavyweight champ expected to eventually face undisputed titleholder Tom Aspinall in a unification bout.
However, Aspinall remains sidelined by the eye injuries he suffered when his first fight with Gane ended in a no-contest in October last year.
That uncertainty could open the door for Gane to defend his interim crown before Aspinall returns – and Pereira clearly believes he should be first in line.
But Hokit is having none of it.
The controversial American, who has been aggressively campaigning for his own title shot, unloaded on Pereira in an extraordinary rant.
“As a fan, that fight makes no f***ing sense,” Hokit wrote on social media.
“I watched you get demolished.
“How about a more favourable match-up like Sergei [Pavlovich], who is basically a striker and way less athletic than Ciryl?
“How about you get one f***ing win in this weight class before you are gifted another title shot?”
And Hokit was only getting started.
“When the UFC starts letting guys who try to feed carrots to a school bus, and Brigitte Macron’s stunt double, do their matchmaking, this company is f***ing cooked,” he continued.
“USA pays the bills around here. The fans deserve an American champion and a f***ing fight we didn’t just see in June!”
The latest spray is another step in Hokit’s attempts to drag Pereira into a rivalry as he charges up the heavyweight rankings.
The former college wrestler and footballer earned his UFC contract through Dana White’s Contender Series last year and has been on a tear ever since, winning four straight to improve his record to 10-0.
That run includes a wild decision win over Curtis Blaydes and a stoppage of knockout merchant Derrick Lewis on the White House card.
Hokit has made no secret of what he wants next: either a title fight with Gane or a blockbuster showdown with Pereira, which he has even suggested should be fought for the BMF belt.
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Pereira, meanwhile, is still chasing his first heavyweight win after giving up the light-heavyweight crown to pursue history against Gane.
But the 39-year-old remains one of the UFC’s biggest stars and has been given an immediate rematch before, famously flattening Magomed Ankalaev to win back the light-heavyweight title after losing their first fight.