Josh Hokit has pushed back on Alex Pereira’s suggestion that his days in the UFC might be numbered, revealing he recently inked a long-term deal with the promotion.
Pereira raised doubts about Hokit’s future during Wednesday’s media day for UFC White House, where he discussed their feud and Hokit's place on the roster. “We can’t remove him out of the card on Sunday, he’s already in there, so he’s going to fight, but I’ve just heard a thing or two—I don’t even know if he’s going to be a part of this organization going forward. He’s going to fight, but I don’t know, I’ve heard some things here or there, maybe not even worth talking about because I don’t even know if he’s going to be there.”
Hokit dismissed the talk and responded by pointing to his new deal and recent performances. “Pereira could say whatever,” Hokit said. “When you put on a fight like how I put on last fight, I mean, I don’t think I’m going anywhere. I just signed an eight-fight contract as well, so he’s just talking just to talk.”
The undefeated UFC heavyweight is coming off a unanimous decision win over Curtis Blaydes in his third Octagon appearance at UFC 327, where he earned two $100,000 Fight Night bonuses. The performance led directly to an immediate booking against Derrick Lewis at UFC White House this Sunday.
Hokit and Pereira’s feud has continued to simmer, with Hokit repeatedly trying to provoke the Brazilian star. “Maybe he’s running away,” Hokit said. “Maybe he’s scared. Maybe he hopes that [UFC CEO] Dana [White] kicks me out. It doesn’t matter what I say, because the most important thing is still what these fists talking about.”
Pereira is scheduled to face Ciryl Gane for an interim heavyweight title in Sunday’s co-main event, while Tom Aspinall is noted as the undisputed heavyweight champion whose eventual return could impact future matchups involving both men.
