TLDR
- Alex Pereira claimed the UFC instructed commentators to generate support for Ciryl Gane’s upcoming heavyweight title fight
- Dana White rejected Pereira’s allegations, calling fighters ‘the most paranoid people on the planet’
- Pereira lost to Gane in their interim heavyweight title fight at UFC White House
- Daniel Cormier denied the allegations before White addressed them publicly
- Pereira is seeking a rematch with Gane, citing illegal strikes in their first fight
Sources: yardbarker.com | themaclife.com
UFC president Dana White has denied allegations from former champion Alex Pereira that the promotion directed commentators to influence public opinion about upcoming heavyweight fights. White addressed the claims following the season 10 finale of Dana White’s Contender Series.
“Of course that’s not true,” White said, according to MMA Fighting. “These guys are the most paranoid people on the planet.”
Alex pereira has underrated defensive wrestling; here he is getting up from his feet after getting taken down🤯
Could Alex pereira submit Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335? pic.twitter.com/Wj4psozAUK
— sarm38 #VolkFC🇦🇺 #MerabFC🇬🇪 (@sarm38alt) October 16, 2026
Pereira recently stated that the UFC used broadcast team members, including former heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier, to generate support for an upcoming heavyweight title fight between Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit. Cormier denied the allegation on Tuesday before White responded.
White Denies Directing Commentators
The UFC president said the promotion does not tell its commentary team what to say during broadcasts. “I’ve never told DC to do anything, ever,” White said.
White explained that the UFC doesn’t operate by controlling what its employees or fighters say publicly. “I don’t tell anybody what to say. I don’t tell the fighters what to say, I don’t tell the commentators what to say,” he stated.
The controversy comes after Pereira lost to Gane in their interim heavyweight title fight at UFC White House. The Brazilian has been calling for a rematch since the loss.
Pereira cited illegal strikes from Gane as a factor in the result. The former middleweight and light heavyweight champion is now pursuing another opportunity at heavyweight gold.
Meanwhile, Pereira Faces Different Challenge
While dealing with his dispute with UFC leadership, Pereira is scheduled to face Sergei Pavlovich in the co-main event of UFC 335 on December 12 in Las Vegas. The fight is not for a title but could impact Pereira’s pursuit of a third divisional championship.
Pereira has also been involved in a public feud with UFC heavyweight Valter Walker. Walker is a teammate of Pavlovich at Gor MMA.
The Brazilian fighter offered to fly Walker to Las Vegas and pay him the equivalent of his last fight purse if Walker could secure a foot submission on him in training. Walker responded with a counter-offer, inviting Pereira to Russia instead.
Walker later made personal attacks against Pereira in an interview with Brazilian YouTube channel Sexto Round. He criticized Pereira’s spending habits and predicted that Pavlovich would knock him out in the first round.
Walker has won five consecutive UFC fights by submission, including four heel hooks and a calf slicer. His ground game expertise makes the challenge to Pereira more than just talk.
White also addressed recent criticism from middleweight champion Sean Strickland during the same media session. “We have over 700 guys on contract, and we’ve talked about two of them being sideways right now,” White said.
The UFC president suggested disagreements with fighters are normal in the business. “This is normal when you’re in this business,” he added.
Pereira enters UFC 335 looking to rebound from his June loss to Gane. The event takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and is headlined by Charles Oliveira vs. Diego Lopes for the BMF title.
Gane is scheduled to face Hokit for the heavyweight championship. Pereira’s pursuit of another opportunity against the Frenchman remains unresolved as he prepares to face Pavlovich.
