Alex Pereira has recently floated an idea of Dana White and Daniel Cormier supposedly trying to “manipulate” fans to justify booking Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit at UFC 334. The two-division champion was looking to get a rematch and title bout in his third division, but believes that UFC used “influencers” like Cormier to push for a narrativeto award Hokit with the shot instead.
Both White and Cormier have quickly shut down any conspiracy behind the booking.
“Of course that’s not true. These guys are
the most paranoid people on the planet,” White said during the Contender Series post-fight press conference. “Like we’re telling DC — I’ve never told DC to do anything, ever. It doesn’t work like that.
“First of all, I’ve never told Rogan or DC or any of these guys to say anything about anybody… I actually can’t stand the commentators saying negative things about fighters, but I don’t tell anybody what to say,” White said, before bringing up a champion that’s currently protesting his contract.
“This thing just plays out organically. When the fights are called, whatever they say when they walk out here, interview with you guys, we don’t police any of that stuff. If we did, Sean Strickland would’ve been gone three years ago.”
Daniel Cormier, who was also seen talking to Alex Pereira about the matter in person, also publicly denied he was asked to push a narrative.
“Pereira did an interview, and he said some things, and I think a lot of it is just a bit confusing to me,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “It’s a bout the Josh Hokit-Ciryl Gane fight, but that doesn’t necessarily bother me much at all. It’s not true though. I was not told by the UFC to promote this as the fight to happen.
“I have nothing against Alex Pereira. If anything, I consider him a buddy of mine,” he said. “I’ve been one of the biggest advocates for Alex Pereira and that won’t change. I just have to chalk this quote up to a miscommunication and a language barrier.”
Pereira may be upset that he didn’t get an immediate rematch, but he now has an arguably bigger challenge before he can think of getting another title shot. While he seems to have struggled taking shots from a bigger opponent, Pereira is now booked to face one of heavyweight’s hardest hitters at UFC 335.
