Outside Source
Pereira is scheduled to fight Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title at UFC White House on June 14. Meanwhile, Hokit is scheduled to fight Derrick Lewis in a heavyweight matchup on the same card.
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During a promotional presser for UFC Freedom 250 at Newark last month, Hokit went on an unprovoked rant against Pereira. Meanwhile, Ilia Topuria looks to defend his lightweight title on the same card against interim champion Justin Gaethje on the same card. Topuria was sitting next to Pereira at the presser when Hokit launched his tirade. With a fast-growing friendship between the Topuria and Pereira, “El Matador” stood up to defend his friend against Hokit’s insults. While Pereira isn’t fluent in English, Topuria was enraged when Hokit said he would “Chama on Pereira’s Mama.” Topuria told Hokit that Pereira doesn’t need to answer him before throwing a bottle of water at the heavyweight fighter. Security personnel stepped in before things could escalate and escorted Hokit out of the media scrum.
Pereira (13-3) is grateful to Topuria for having his back. As for Hokit, “Poatan” doesn’t want to give him undue attention. The former two-division champion, aiming for a third title, believes Hokit is a “problematic” character who doesn’t get along well with his own family and friends. Pereira plans to maintain his composure in the face of Hokit’s antics during the UFC Freedom 250 fight week. However, if Hokit is able to get physically close to pull off some stunt, Pereira will blame the UFC for the lapse.
Planning to Keep His Cool
“I don’t understand English, and I think Topuria felt bad,” Pereira told MMAjunkie.com. “Topuria saw that and he stepped up as a brother. Ilia threw the bottle or bottle cap at Hokit’s face when he saw that he was going too far. To me, Hokit, I don’t even want to talk about that guy. He’s the kind of guy who doesn’t get along with his family. He doesn’t get along with his brother. He’s the problematic part of the family… Fight week we’re probably gonna have a lot of people around. If anything happens, I’m gonna stay calm and composed as always. If at fight week this guy is able to get to me to try to do anything it’s just messed up by the organization.”
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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