Pereira calls Gane's UFC 334 win a 'robbery' and tells Hokit 'you won'

Alex Pereira declared a ‘robbery’ after Ciryl Gane successfully defended the UFC heavyweight title against Josh Hokit via unanimous decision at UFC 334 in Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, with all three judges scoring the bout 48-47 in the champion’s favour.

Pereira, who was ringside at MSG ahead of his own heavyweight clash with Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335 next month, made his feelings clear in a video posted by the UFC. Responding in Portuguese, he staged a mock phone call to the authorities.

“Call the cops,” Pereira said. “Call the cops. Call the cops. Hello, can someone come to Madison Square Garden? There was a robbery here now.”

The reaction carries added weight given Pereira’s recent history with Hokit. The pair share a rivalry, and a Hokit victory would have complicated the picture in the heavyweight division — a division Pereira himself is angling to enter at the top level.

Scoring from judges Adrian Castro, Sal D’Amato and Chris Lee was far from straightforward. While rounds three through five were unanimous across the panel, the opening two rounds split the judges, leaving the outcome tight enough to fuel debate.

Pereira did not stop at social media commentary. He sought out Hokit backstage at Madison Square Garden to deliver his verdict in person.

“Congrats, my brother,” Pereira told him. “It was a very good fight. For me, you won.”

With Gane retaining the belt, the heavyweight title picture remains unsettled. Pereira’s fight against Pavlovich at UFC 335 next month is widely expected to determine who earns the next shot at the championship.