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Alex Pereira Says He Chose Not to Respond Physically to Josh Hokit at UFC Events
The Brazilian fighter addressed trash talk from Josh Hokit ahead of UFC Freedom 250 and said he kept his composure despite multiple in-person run-ins.
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Alex Pereira said he could have slapped Josh Hokit or kicked him in the head during confrontations at UFC press conferences but chose not to. Pereira made the comments on The Ariel Helwani Show. He said nobody was on top of him during the incidents and that he could have done whatever he wanted if he had chosen to respond physically.
“I know how to keep my cool, keep my mind in a cool spot,” Pereira said. “People talk about the press conference, but nobody was on top of me on the day. If I wanted to, I could have just slapped him on the face, kicked him in the head, do whatever I wanted.
Hokit berated Pereira at the UFC Freedom 250 press conferences in Newark and Washington, DC. The two also had a run-in during fight week before the UFC White House event on June 14, 2026. Pereira’s contract with the UFC is signed, and he said he will fight whoever the organization puts in front of him.
Pereira lost to Ciryl Gane in the UFC Freedom 250 co-main event. He plans to appeal the loss, citing illegal punches to the back of the head that he said referee Herb Dean missed. Hokit knocked out Derrick Lewis before the UFC Freedom 250 event.
Ilia Topuria stood up to defend Pereira on stage in early May after Hokit’s trash talk.
