Alex Pereira accuses UFC of manipulating public opinion to book Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit

Alex Pereira has accused the UFC of manipulation after the promotion booked Ciryl Gane against Josh Hokit for the heavyweight title at UFC 334 on November 14, 2026, at Madison Square Garden. In an interview with Laerte Viana, Pereira claimed officials manufactured public interest using coordinated comments from figures like Daniel Cormier and social media influencers to justify booking Hokit instead of him.

Writer Ryan Harkness criticizes Pereira's claims, arguing that Pereira's public complaints resemble sour grapes following his first-round loss to Gane. The article notes that Pereira is scheduled to face Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335 in December, where he can potentially earn another heavyweight title opportunity.