Josh Hokit: Alex Pereira’s MMA success due to favorable matchmaking

Josh Hokit has challenged the narrative surrounding Alex Pereira's legacy, arguing that the Brazilian's rise to the top of mixed martial arts has been aided by favorable matchmaking rather than elite-level competition. Speaking on "The Ariel Helwani Show," Hokit disputed the widespread perception of Pereira as one of the greatest fighters in MMA history, claiming that "Poatan" has avoided facing wrestlers with credentials comparable to his own.

Pereira's resume is undeniably impressive. The 13-4 fighter joined the UFC in 2021 and captured the middleweight title against Israel Adesanya within a year. After losing the belt in an immediate rematch, he ascended to light heavyweight, where he won the title and successfully defended it three times before suffering a loss to Magomed Ankalaev. Pereira then reclaimed that title with a stunning 80-second knockout of Ankalaev and subsequently moved up to heavyweight to pursue an interim title fight.

Hokit, who improved to 10-0 with a knockout of Derrick Lewis at UFC White House earlier this month, believes he possesses the wrestling pedigree and skill set to expose Pereira as less dominant than his accolades suggest. The undefeated heavyweight has made his intentions clear, attempting to provoke Pereira in the lead-up to the White House event. Hokit argues that timing played a significant role in Pereira's ascent, suggesting the fighter entered the sport during a favorable period. While Pereira recently fell short in an interim heavyweight title bid against Ciryl Gane at the same card, Hokit's challenge represents a potential future test against an opponent who could present the elite wrestling-based opposition the Brazilian has allegedly managed to avoid throughout his UFC tenure.