🚨 ALEX PEREIRA’S ROAD BACK TO THE HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE IS ALREADY BEING DISCUSSED 😱 Despite losing to Ciryl Gane, Pereira remains one of the biggest stars in the division. Meanwhile, Josh Hokit is building serious momentum and has arguably put together the stronger recent case. So what happens? Pereira vs Hokit for the No. 1 contender spot, with the winner facing Gane for the heavyweight title. It's hard to call it the most “rightful” route, but it might be the fight that makes the most sense. SHOULD ALEX PEREIRA FIGHT JOSH HOKIT FOR THE NEXT TITLE SHOT? 🤔 FIGHT HOKIT FOR TITLE SHOT 💪 / FIGHT FOR THE TITLE AGAINST GANE 🏆 #ufc #mma #ufcnews #alexpereira #chama
Early discussions are circulating about what comes next for Alex Pereira following his loss to Ciryl Gane, with one scenario gaining traction: a bout against Josh Hokit for the right to challenge at heavyweight.
Pereira, 39, carries a 13-4 record and has built one of the most marketable profiles in the sport despite being listed in the verified_fighters data under Light Heavyweight at number three in that division. The Brazilian striker out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach and lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy — numbers that make him dangerous in any division. His move toward heavyweight has kept him in major events, and even after the Gane defeat, his star power is not in question.
Gane, meanwhile, holds the heavyweight title at number one in the division. The 36-year-old Frenchman from MMA Factory is also six-foot-four but carries an even longer 81-inch reach and posts 5.29 significant strikes per minute at 61 percent accuracy. He has now beaten Pereira, which sets the stage for the question of who deserves the next crack at his title.
The name being floated as Pereira's potential next opponent is Josh Hokit, who is described as having built serious recent momentum and arguably the stronger current contender's case. The thinking, as reported, is that Pereira and Hokit would meet for the number-one contender position, with the winner earning a shot at Gane's title.
Why it matters
- Pereira's marketability keeps him in contention even after a loss, raising questions about merit versus star power in title-shot decisions
- Hokit's recent run gives him a credible claim that would be tested in a high-stakes contender bout
- A Pereira-Hokit matchup would produce a clear challenger and avoid a rematch debate until it is genuinely earned
