Pereira criticizes Cormier's influence

UFC fighter Alex Pereira accused commentator Daniel Cormier of pushing for a fight between Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit instead of a rematch between Gane and himself. Pereira lost to Gane in June, winning the interim heavyweight title, but he believes Cormier's comments influenced the UFC's decision.

Controversy over referee's decisions

Pereira criticized referee Herb Dean for not penalizing Gane for illegal strikes to the back of the head during their fight. He argued that these mistakes affected the outcome and led to his loss, though Gane ultimately won the title.

UFC chooses Gane vs. Hokit for title

The UFC decided to have Gane face Hokit for the next heavyweight title instead of a rematch with Pereira. Pereira believes this decision was partly influenced by Cormier and other commentators, who promoted the Gane-Hokit matchup as more appealing to fans.

Pereira questions the decision's fairness

In an interview, Pereira claimed the UFC conducted a survey or vote to justify the fight, but he felt the process was manipulated. He suggested that influencers like Cormier were encouraged to promote the matchup to sway public opinion and make the decision seem more favorable.

Pereira still has a path to title

Despite his frustration, Pereira still has a chance to fight for the title. If he defeats Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335 in December, he will be scheduled to face the winner of the Gane-Hokit matchup, giving him another opportunity to claim the heavyweight title.