Pereira Claims UFC Orchestrated Influencer Campaign to Bypass Him for Gane-Hokit Title Fight

Key points

• Pereira stated in an interview with Laerte Viana that the UFC conducted a poll or research to justify the Gane-Hokit booking, bypassing his request for a rematch.
• The Brazilian fighter alleged that the promotion instructed influencers, including Daniel Cormier, to praise the matchup before the official announcement to ensure public acceptance.
• Hokit responded to Pereira's criticism on social media, mocking his 'aura' and warning that Sergei Pavlovich might end his career at UFC 335.
• Gane will defend the undisputed heavyweight title against Hokit at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 14, following Tom Aspinall's vacating of the belt due to an eye injury.
• Pereira is scheduled to fight Pavlovich at UFC 335 on Dec. 12 in Las Vegas, with a potential title shot contingent on his victory.

Background

This dispute follows earlier tensions where Hokit criticized a potential Pereira-Gane rematch as illogical, and Dana White confirmed Gane as the undisputed champion after Aspinall vacated the belt. The current conflict escalates previous debates over Hokit's rapid rise and the UFC's booking priorities.

How outlets are covering it

MMA Mania and MMA Fighting report that Pereira views the UFC's actions as a calculated manipulation of fan sentiment, specifically citing Cormier's pre-announcement endorsements. MMA Sucka highlights Hokit's aggressive social media rebuttal, framing it as a direct counter to Pereira's mockery of the title fight. Sherdog summarizes the core accusation that the promotion manufactured support for the matchup, while all sources agree on the scheduled fight dates and locations.

Why it matters

The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between the UFC's commercial booking strategies and fighter autonomy, potentially affecting future title unification plans and fan engagement in the heavyweight division.

What to watch

UFC 334 will take place on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden, followed by UFC 335 on Dec. 12 in Las Vegas, where Pereira's performance against Pavlovich will determine his next title opportunity.