UFC CEO Dana White has explained why Josh Hokit was selected to face Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title instead of Alex Pereira, despite speculation that the former two-division champion was in line for another shot at gold.
Gane recently defeated Pereira by knockout to capture the interim heavyweight championship at UFC Freedom 250. Following Tom Aspinall's decision to vacate the heavyweight title last month to focus on his recovery from eye surgery, speculation emerged that Gane and Pereira could run it back for the undisputed championship.
However, the UFC confirmed that Hokit will face Gane at UFC 334 on November 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Speaking to reporters during a media scrum this week ahead of UFC 332, White was asked whether Pereira's star power had given him a realistic chance of securing the title fight.
White dismissed the suggestion that the UFC makes matchups based primarily on popularity, emphasizing that sporting merit remains the priority.
"We make fights based on star power? We make fights based on who is the best in the world, who deserves to be there," White said.
He also pointed out that Pereira is coming off a loss to Gane, while making it clear that the Brazilian remains firmly in the heavyweight title picture.
"(Pereira is) coming off a loss right now against Ciryl Gane. This is the fight to make. Yeah, he's in there (in the title picture). It's not like he has to do anything to come close to the title shot. He's in it right now," White added.
The UFC CEO acknowledged that Pereira's position could appear uncertain following the change in plans but insisted that the situation is largely a matter of timing.
"I mean, everything you just said is dead on, and he'll get his shot. He's got to, you know. Sometimes people get in these weird positions where they feel like they're in no man's land, but it's just a timing issue."
