Alex Pereira has accused the UFC and Daniel Cormier of manipulating the matchmaking behind Ciryl Gane's title fight with Josh Hokit, following his second-round technical knockout defeat at UFC Freedom 250. The Brazilian, who missed out on a historic chance to become a three-weight champion, insists he took illegal strikes to the back of the head against Gane and pushed for a fair rematch, only for his protests to be ignored. Gane will defend the title against Hokit at UFC 334, while Pereira faces Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335.
"At first, the UFC said they did a poll, and that this will be the fight. I said, OK… It's all kind of manipulated," Pereira said, hitting out at decisions he regards as unfair. He was just as scathing about Cormier's views. "I asked Cormier if I defeat Ciryl Gane, am I the champion? He said I don't think so. So the guy has opinions that don't make sense," he added. Having given up his 205-pound light heavyweight belt in pursuit of a historic triumph at heavyweight, the Brazilian now finds himself on the outside of the title race.
