The UFC 334 main event is set, with Ciryl Gane defending the heavyweight title against Josh Hokit. The matchup became official after Tom Aspinall recently vacated the belt. With Gane already holding the interim title, the Frenchman was subsequently upgraded to undisputed champion.
Hokit enters the fight undefeated at 10-0 and is coming off impressive wins over Curtis Blaydes and a 41-year-old Derrick Lewis. However, those victories don’t exactly look like the kind of resume that usually earns a fighter an immediate UFC title shot.
On top of that, many fans wanted to see Alex Pereira get the opportunity to fight Gane, particularly because of the controversial nature of their first meeting for the interim title at UFC Freedom 250. Dana White, however, was quick to shut down those calls and explain why Hokit was given the title shot ahead of the Brazilian.
Dana White Insists UFC Puts the Best Fighters Against Each Other Over Star Power
During a recent conversation with the media ahead of UFC 332, a reporter asked Dana White why Alex Pereira wasn’t given the title shot against Ciryl Gane. The reporter then asked what made Josh Hokit the logical choice for the UFC.
White flipped the question back to the reporter and asked where the argument for Pereira came from and why he should be fighting Gane. The reporter pointed to Pereira’s immense star power as the main reason.
That drew a blunt response from White, who questioned whether the UFC actually makes fights based on star power. He said, “Who do you think should have been the choice? You are asking me the question. Where does that question come from? What do you think we should have done?”
The UFC CEO then said, “Star power? We make fights based on star power. We make fights based on who is the best in the world, who deserves to be there. And he’s [Pereira] coming off a loss right now against Ciryl Gane. This is the fight to make. If I do the rematch, we all just saw the fight.”
He added, “And it wasn’t like ‘holyshit, that was a knockdown, and the fans are demanding a rematch.’ So yeah.”
Dana White on why Josh Hokit was chosen over Alex Pereira to face Ciryl Gane
“We make fights based on star power…? We make fights based on who is the best in the world and deserves it. We just did the fight and it’s not like holy s**t the fans are demanding a rematch” pic.twitter.com/Zek0nlgZIf
— FULL SEND MMA (@full_send_mma) October 2, 2026
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White’s reasoning makes sense from the UFC’s matchmaking perspective. Pereira may be one of the biggest stars on the roster, but he is also coming off a decisive loss to Gane. At the same time, the 11 illegal shots to the back of the head from Gane were a major part of the controversy surrounding their fight.
Pereira wanting another crack at the Frenchman because of those circumstances is understandable, but Gane was also clearly getting the better of the striking exchanges before the stoppage.
As for Pereira, his next fight is expected to be announced soon during the UFC 332 KICK stream, with White confirming that news is coming. All signs currently point toward a potential megafight against Sergei Pavlovich, with both fighters teasing an announcement on their respective social media accounts.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
