Both White and Cormier have been quick to shut down any conspiracy behind the booking.
“Of course that’s not true. These guys are the most paranoid people on the planet,” White said at the Contender Series post-fight press conference. “As we say to DC — I’ve never told DC to do anything. That’s not how it works.
“First of all, I’ve never told Rogan or DC or any of these guys to say anything about anybody… I really don’t stand for commentators saying negative things about fighters, but I don’t tell anybody what to say,” White said before speaking. champion who is currently protesting his contract.
“This thing just plays out organically. When fights are called, whatever they say when they walk out here, interview you guys, we don’t control any of that stuff. If we did, Sean Strickland would have been gone three years ago.”
Daniel Cormier, who was also seen personally speaking to Alex Pereira on the matter, also publicly denied that he was asked to push the narrative.
“Pereira did an interview and he said some things and I think a lot of it is just confusing to me,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “It’s a Josh Hokit vs. Ciryl Gane fight, but it might not bother me that much. It’s not true, though. The UFC didn’t tell me to promote it as a fight.
“I have nothing against Alex Pereira. If anything, I consider him my friend,” he said. “I’ve been one of Alex Pereira’s biggest advocates and that’s not going to change. I just have to chalk that quote up to a miscommunication and language barrier.”
Pereira may be upset that he didn’t get a rematch right away, but he now has arguably a bigger challenge before he can think about another title shot. Although he seems to have struggled to land the punches of a bigger opponent, Pereira is now booked facing one of the toughest punchers in the heavyweight division at UFC 335.