Dana White Slams Alex Pereiras Accusations Against Cormier

yahoo sports mma |  

Alex Pereira has accused the UFC of using “influencers” like Daniel Cormier to build support for Ciryl Gane’s next title fight. Cormier has denied it, and Dana White says the claim is “not true.”

The dispute is over the undisputed UFC heavyweight title fight between Gane and Josh Hokit, set for UFC 334 on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden. Pereira wanted a rematch with Gane, who stopped him in the second round of their interim title fight at UFC Freedom 250 in June.

What Alex Pereira Said

In an interview with Brazilian journalist Laerte Viana, Pereira said the UFC told him the Gane vs. Hokit matchup came out of a poll. He said he believes the promotion pushed public opinion before announcing the fight.

“Okay, I didn’t agree with it, but they’re the ones in charge. It was all kind of manipulated, you know?” Pereira said, per MMA Fighting. “I saw some things even before they made the announcement, with Cormier and other guys saying it was going to be a good fight. When I say these people are influencers, people with a lot of engagement and followers, [the UFC tells them], ‘Go out there and say this is a good fight because when we announce it, the audience will already be okay with it since they’ll agree with you,’ you know?”

Pereira also questioned Cormier’s view of Hokit. “Now this guy who was a nobody is suddenly somebody, you know? They’re trying to influence people into thinking this would be the best fight,” he said. “I think that’s the only explanation, man. Either that, or the guy’s kind of crazy.”

Pereira also said that when he asked Cormier whether beating Gane would make him champion, Cormier told him, “Man, I don’t think so.” Pereira did not offer any evidence that the UFC directed what commentators said.

Daniel Cormier Denies the Claim

Cormier responded on his YouTube channel on Tuesday, Oct. 13. “It’s not true, though. I was not told by the UFC to promote this as the fight to happen,” he said, per MMA Fighting. “Again, I have nothing against Alex Pereira. If anything, I consider him a buddy of mine.”

Cormier said Pereira had misremembered their exchange from before the White House card, which Pereira had asked about through his coach and translator, Plinio Cruz. “I didn’t say he wouldn’t be the champ; I said he wouldn’t be the GOAT, yet,” Cormier said. “I’m honest. I don’t lie to these guys… But I also think that could just be a miscommunication. We don’t talk the same language.”

He said he hopes the dispute doesn’t hurt their friendship. “Pereira and I have a great relationship; I hope that doesn’t change. I think he’s a good guy; I think he’s a tremendous fighter,” Cormier said, per Sherdog.

READ MORE:

Dana White: ‘Of Course That’s Not True’

White addressed Pereira’s claim on Tuesday night after the Season 10 finale of Dana White’s Contender Series in Las Vegas.

“Of course that’s not true. These guys are the most paranoid people on the planet,” White said, per MMA Fighting. “I’ve never told DC to say anything, ever. It doesn’t work like that. We don’t operate like that.”

White said the UFC does not script its commentators or fighters. “I don’t tell anybody what to say. I don’t tell the fighters what to say, I don’t tell the commentators what to say,” he said. “We don’t police any of that stuff. If we did, Sean Strickland would’ve been gone three f*cking years ago, and we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.”

MMA Junkie also covered White’s response.

What’s Next for Alex Pereira

Pereira, a former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight champion, faces Sergei Pavlovich in the UFC 335 co-main event on Dec. 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Cormier said a win there should earn Pereira a shot at the winner of Gane vs. Hokit. “Now, Pereira goes and wins his fight, I would definitely say he deserves to fight the winner,” he said.

More MMA News

This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the MMA section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.