Pereira Picks Gane to Beat Hokit at UFC 334: "Unless He Really Changes"
Event: UFC 334: Gane vs. Hokit — November 14, 2026, Madison Square Garden, New York
Image credit: UFC.com
Three weeks out from Madison Square Garden, the heavyweight title fight has its first big-name prediction — and it comes from a man with unfinished business in the division. Alex Pereira says Ciryl Gane beats Josh Hokit at UFC 334. [1][2]
"I don't think he is ready"
During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Pereira was asked who wins the November 14 main event. He didn't hesitate: "I think Ciryl Gane (wins)."
Then he went further. "I don't think (Hokit is ready). He is on a winning streak, but against opponents that are not in a good moment in the UFC. The results show that," Pereira said, through an interpreter. "If you see the last fights, he was actually getting very tired. Those guys aren't even in a good moment in the UFC, and he was already getting tired."
"So imagine a five-round fight. Unless he really changes from the last fight to this one, it's gonna be hard." [1][2]
Watch the moment for yourself — this is the clip fans are sharing. [2]
Why 'Poatan' sounds frustrated
There is some personal history behind the pick. Pereira told Helwani he had been led to believe he might get Gane for the belt — or face Hokit himself. Neither happened. Instead, he's fighting Sergei Pavlovich in the five-round co-main event of UFC 335 on December 12. [3]
"What got me more upset at that time was because they told me that I was possibly going to fight Gane for the belt or fight Hokit. And then none of that happened," he said. He also rated the matchups bluntly: Hokit "would be a much easier fight" than Pavlovich, who he called "a little more dangerous opponent." [3]
Pereira is still chasing history — becoming the first three-division champion — and plans to fight the Gane vs. Hokit winner in 2027 if he gets past Pavlovich. He is clearly expecting that winner to be Gane. [1]
The counter-take: Jon Jones is picking Hokit
Not everyone agrees. Former heavyweight champion Jon Jones reportedly believes Hokit can beat Gane at UFC 334 — setting up a proper legends-disagree debate three weeks from fight night. [2]
And Hokit has his own argument: he's undefeated at 10-0 and getting a title shot in just his fifth UFC fight. The knock on him — level of competition and the cardio question Pereira just put on blast — is real. But so is the momentum. [6]
Where the numbers land
Gane's striking against Hokit's wrestling, the cardio question, the five-round factor — our full stat comparison, form and prediction are in the Gane vs. Hokit head-to-head preview, and the complete card is on the UFC 334 event page. Fight-week coverage lands as the Garden gets closer.
Sources
1. Bloody Elbow — Alex Pereira makes his pick for Ciryl Gane vs Josh Hokit at UFC 334
2. BJPenn.com — Alex Pereira predicts Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit: 'He isn't ready' (clip embedded via The Ariel Helwani Show; Jon Jones counter-pick reported)
3. Combat Sports UK — Alex Pereira says Josh Hokit would be a much easier fight than Sergei Pavlovich
4. MMA Sucka — Alex Pereira predicts trouble for Josh Hokit against Ciryl Gane at UFC 334
5. YouTube — The Ariel Helwani Show: Alex Pereira on Gane vs Hokit
Fight data compiled from public statistical sources (ufcstats.com) and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). OctagonStats is an independent database, not affiliated with UFC / TKO Group.