Daniel
Cormier hopes a disagreement with fellow former
Ultimate Fighting Championship two-division titleholder
Alex
Pereira won’t damage their friendship.
Pereira (13-4) is scheduled to fight Sergei
Pavlovich (21-3) at UFC
335 on Dec. 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Meanwhile,
Josh
Hokit (10-0) will challenge Ciryl Gane
(14-2) for the heavyweight title at UFC
334 on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Pereira
accused Cormier of promoting Gane vs. Hokit at the UFC’s direction,
prompting a response from “DC.”
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Daniel Cormier denies UFC instructions to promote Ciryl Gane
vs. Josh Hokit and clarifies Alex Pereira GOAT conversation
Pereira believes he deserved a title rematch against Gane despite
being stopped by the Frenchman at
UFC Freedom 250 in June. “Poatan” accused Cormier of helping
build support for Gane vs. Hokit before the matchup was announced.
Cormier denied that the UFC had instructed him to promote it.
“Alex Pereira and I have built a relationship over the past five
years,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “I believe that it’s a
great relationship and I believe that it’s a friendship. Pereira
did an interview and he said some things. I was not told by the UFC
to promote this as the fight to happen.”
Pereira also recalled a conversation with Cormier before the Gane
fight. The Brazilian said he had asked whether beating Gane would
make him the heavyweight champion and that Cormier had answered
no.
Cormier disputed that account, showing a clip from an interview
with Pereira. In it, Pereira asks through his coach and translator,
Plinio
Cruz, whether a victory over Gane would make him the greatest
of all time. Cormier said Pereira would not yet hold that
distinction but would be part of the discussion.
“This was before the White House card,” Cormier added. “Alex asked
me through Plinio if he won, would he be the GOAT… I didn’t say he
wouldn’t be the champ; I said he wouldn’t be the GOAT yet. I
showered Pereira with compliments. 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.”
—- Poatan said some things today about his
influence over him and his request for a title opportunity. To
clear things up, I didn’t save those things, and I have always been
very fair to Alex. That said, I believe he’s right to fight again
to earn a title opportunity because an immediate rematch wasn’t
warranted. I explained why I believe that. Josh should be fighting
for the belt, and so much more. In my latest YouTube video, live
now; add my YouTube channel link ⬇️ https://t.co/F7ByrBoIqa— Daniel
Cormier (@dc_mma)
October 13, 2026