Josh Hokit Brands Alex Pereira ‘Overrated,’ Says He Benefited From Favorable UFC Matchups

Having already taken aim at Ciryl Gane and Tom Aspinall, Hokit seems to have his sights set squarely on Alex Pereira. In an unusually restrained tirade, the 28-year-old picked apart "Poatan's" resume, insisting he is the “one” who can finally drive a stake through the myth that Gane cracked open at UFC Freedom 250. 

Josh Hokit Says Alex Pereira Benefited From Timing and Matchmaking

Days after igniting another firestorm with his "disgusting" remark about Michelle Obama, Josh Hokit joined "The Ariel Helwani Show" and revisited a familiar foe: Pereira.

The two had previously traded barbs during a tense run-in at the fighter hotel ahead of UFC Freedom 250, but this time, the undefeated heavyweight swapped insults for analysis, offering a surprisingly composed dissection of "Poatan's" track record following his fifth straight UFC victory over Derrick Lewis. 

Speaking to the MMA pundit, the former collegiate football player diminished the Brazilian's indomitable persona, saying, "I don't think Pereira's career is what everyone says it is. He was fighting for his third title, and they said he was going to go down as the greatest of all time."

While Josh Hokit was willing to credit Pereira's unprecedented title haul, he argued that the Brazilian has largely benefited from stylistically favorable matchups during his UFC run, "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." 

Josh Hokit Says Pereira Hasn't Faced Elite Wrestlers

The Californian then doubled down, pointing to what he perceives as a lack of elite wrestling opposition on Pereira's record. According to Hokit, the 38-year-old has yet to share the Octagon with someone possessing his blend of athleticism and grappling credentials.

"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." 

Josh Hokit further claimed that Pereira's aura is more a product of timing than outright dominance- "I want to prove that it's not real. I feel like I have the skill set to prove that."

Before attempting to clear the air surrounding his now-infamous "Chama your mama" jab, Hokit revisited his tense run-in with Pereira at the fighter hotel ahead of UFC Freedom 250. According to the Californian, the confrontation began with an extended staredown before the former two-division champion broke the silence with his trademark catchphrase.

"I stared at him just to check his temperature. We stood there for about five to 10 seconds and he says, 'Chama.' I was like, 'What are we doing?' He doesn't speak English, so I didn't want to waste English words," Hokit recalled.

‘What Happened With the Armbar?’ Hokit Explains

Hokit's dominant win over “The Black Beast” at UFC Freedom 250 had memorable moments, but one sequence in particular left fans scratching their heads. After controlling much of the opening round, the sensational heavyweight secured an armbar on the 41-year-old with less than 30 seconds remaining.

Surprisingly, Hokit appeared in no rush to crank the submission, allowing Lewis to survive until the horn sounded. For many watching, it looked like a missed opportunity to add another finish.

According to Hokit, though, that was never really the plan. "God forbid, someone have a little fun in the cage, ah?" he joked while reflecting on the moment. 

"The Incredible Hok" explained that he already owns an armbar victory on his professional record and wasn't particularly interested in submitting one of the most feared knockout artists in UFC history, particularly at an iconic venue like the White House. 

"I already have an armbar finish in my career and I don't know submitting Derrick at the White House, I don't think that would've sat right with me," Hokit said. "So, I felt like the armbar entry was phenomenal, but I was going to see if he was just going to panic tap. I didn't want for the fight to end like that."

Instead, Hokit had his sights set on a much more emphatic ending. "I think a knockout at the White House against the greatest knockout artist that the UFC has ever had is so much better than an armbar finish," he added. "I don't like finishing fights the same way twice, unless a knockout or a TKO. Those never get old."

Whether fans appreciate the showmanship or not, Hokit's explanation fits the persona he has built since arriving in the UFC.