Josh Hokit says the Alex Pereira myth doesn’t match reality: ‘All his matchups have been favorable’

Josh Hokit was already unimpressed by Alex Pereira before the former two-division champion’s latest loss to Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250. That hasn’t changed after.

Hokit and Pereira infamously got into a heated back-and-forth at the event’s pre-fight press conference in May. The rising heavyweight contender was fully entrenched in one of his brash, trash-talking characters, berating Pereira, before now-former lightweight champion Ilia Topuria stepped in. The exchange led to Hokit’s removal from the stage.

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Speaking on Tuesday’s edition of “The Ariel Helwani Show” in a rare out-of-character appearance, Hokit explained why he targeted Pereira in the first place.

“I don’t think Pereira’s career is what everyone says it,” Hokit told Uncrowned. “He was fighting for his third title, and they said he was going to go down as the greatest of all time. I mean, the accolades, if we’re talking about the belts, yeah, no one’s done that. But I feel like all his matchups have been favorable matchups. He hasn’t faced anybody with my skill set, or even like a wrestling pedigree. People want to talk about, ‘Oh, [Magomed] Ankalaev is a wrestler as well.’ I don’t even know if he’s even put on a singlet and had a wrestling match. All of his matchups have been kickboxing matchups.

“I want to prove that it’s not real. I feel like I have the skill set to prove that.”

Hokit, 28, went on to face Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250, winning via a second-round stoppage. It was Hokit’s fourth straight win in the promotion since his debut in November of last year. Pereira, on the other hand, has been forced to go back to the drawing board after a second-round loss of his own in what was his heavyweight debut.

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Ultimately, Pereira’s quick rise to legend status is earned, believes Hokit. But at the same time, he says it’s still a bit overrated.

“He is good. And when you become a legend, it has a lot to do with timing,” Hokit said. “He did come into the sport at a real good time, where the middleweights, they don’t have that many wrestlers, that many grapplers, and the division’s not that deep. Then 205 [pounds] is, it’s all the same. Even heavyweight. So he was able to go through all those fairly easy, or, I should say, quickly.

“I don’t think he’s faced a person of my caliber.”

A big Fight of the Year caliber win over Curtis Blaydes prior to the Lewis fight put Hokit in a prime position as one of heavyweight’s next potential title threats. “The Incredible Hok” sees himself heading in the right direction, with only one more fight left — at most — before he has gold directly in his sights.

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Ideally, that would mean a matchup with Pereira next, said Hokit. That’s unless reigning champion Tom Aspinall isn’t able to return for a rematch against the new interim champion Ciryl Gane.

“Whatever they want to do,” Hokit said. “If Aspinall is not ready to come back, then I’m ready to fight Ciryl Gane. I like that matchup as well. It’ll be a fight of the best athletes heavyweight has ever seen. And I think I’m more athletic than him. I saw him play basketball, I see how the way he moves, I see even his golf swing. It’s just like he’s a master of movement. But I still believe I’ll go down as the greatest athlete to ever step into the Octagon. I’m talking about all-around athlete as well. If you had a variety of sports, I would beat him at mostly all of them.

“Everybody wants to fight me. I have the most buzz around my name. Rightfully so. … I want to get to the belt, and I’m really close. If I don’t fight for the belt next, then I’m open to fight Pereira. That’s kind of where my mind’s at.”

His rise over the past year has come at a rapid pace for Hokit. The former San Francisco 49ers practice squad member didn’t even make his MMA debut until 2023.

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There’s no slowing down for Hokit at this point. Fresh on the heels of the big stage that was UFC Freedom 250, Hokit expects to fight again in 2026 — potentially even twice, with the next fight teased to come quicker than expected.

“I think there’s news on the horizon. Possibly,” Hokit said. “I don’t want to pigeonhole myself and mess up some money. There’s money on the line on this one.

“For example, if I don’t fight for the title, then that’s a certain pay. If I do fight for the title, it’s a different pay. There’s a great chance [I fight for the belt this year].”

While Hokit’s infamous character work has become more and more controversial with each new comment, he has no regrets. And with the financial benefits he claims it’s brought him, don’t expect “the real Hokit” to become the norm.

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“If anything, I’ve gained more money [from the antics],” Hokit said. “I got seven figures in seven months. By the end of the year, this may be a three-to-four million dollar year.”