Rising welterweight contender Carlos Prates has weighed in on some of the most compelling matchups on the horizon for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, offering a strong vote of confidence for fellow Brazilian star Alex Pereira while harshly criticizing the promotional tactics of heavyweight contender Josh Hokit.
In an exclusive interview, Prates shared his tactical insights and personal opinions regarding Pereira’s upcoming heavyweight test against Russian knockout artist Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335, as well as the upcoming UFC 334 main event championship clash between reigning heavyweight titleholder Ciryl Gane and the undefeated Josh Hokit.
The combat sports community has been buzzing with discussion about Pereira’s heavyweight trajectory following his difficult promotional debut in the division against Ciryl Gane. In that encounter, the former two-division champion faced a steep learning curve, ultimately suffering a second-round knockout defeat at the hands of the slick French heavyweight. The setback prompted widespread debate across the mixed martial arts landscape, with many analysts and fans arguing that the legendary striker is simply undersized for the 265-pound weight class and would be better served returning to the familiar comforts of the light heavyweight division.
Pereira himself has openly addressed his future, acknowledging that another setback at heavyweight could prompt a permanent move back down to 205 pounds, where he has previously expressed an expectation of stepping straight back into an immediate championship opportunity. Despite the skepticism surrounding his heavyweight ceiling, Prates holds a vastly different perspective on his countryman’s potential.
Speaking exclusively with Squawka, "The Nightmare" expressed unwavering belief in Pereira’s abilities, predicting not only a successful bounce-back performance against Pavlovich but also predicting that the 39-year-old pioneer can ultimately capture gold in a third distinct weight class.
"Alex Pereira can become a three-division UFC champion, and I think he’ll knock Sergei Pavlovich out," Prates stated during the interview. Explaining his reasoning, Prates pointed to Pereira’s deep wealth of elite-level experience and his undeniable psychological presence inside the Octagon. "I think Pereira can become heavyweight champion. He has a lot of experience, a lot of aura. Two-time UFC champ in different weight divisions, so he can. I think he can."
Prates emphasized that the setback against Gane was part of the natural adjustment period required when moving up to face the largest and most dangerous athletes in the sport. According to the welterweight contender, the time between bouts will allow Pereira and his coaching staff to make the necessary adjustments to his power, conditioning, and overall physique.
"Now he’s gonna fix a lot of things: his power, his weight class, his weight," Prates continued. "I’m really excited to see him fight Pavlovich. I think it’s gonna be a really good fight. I think he’s gonna knock Pavlovich out."
Shifting his focus to the immediate heavyweight title landscape, the conversation turned toward the upcoming pay-per-view headliner at UFC 334. In that event, current heavyweight titleholder Ciryl Gane is scheduled to make the very first defense of his championship belt against the surging, undefeated challenger Josh Hokit. The matchup has drawn significant attention not only because of the stakes involved in the heavyweight division but also due to the verbal sparring and promotional tactics leading up to fight night.
While trash-talking and psychological warfare have long been staple elements of fight promotion within the UFC, Prates made it clear that he is far from impressed by Hokit’s approach to building anticipation for the championship bout. The Brazilian contender pulled no punches when evaluating the American challenger’s persona and his actual chances of dethroning the division’s ruler.
"I don’t like Josh Hokit’s trash talk, and I don’t think he can beat Ciryl Gane," Prates remarked plainly. While acknowledging that fighters utilize various methods to capture public attention and market their bouts, Prates maintained that Hokit’s specific brand of pre-fight chatter crosses his personal threshold of preference. "No, I don’t like it, the things he says. I respect everybody having their way to sell fights, to promote fights, but it’s not the kind of thing I like."
Looking strictly at the athletic and technical dynamics of the matchup inside the cage, Prates sees a clear favorite in the champion, "Bon Gamin." Given Gane’s elite movement, striking pedigree, and technical mastery of the heavyweight landscape, Prates does not envision an upset occurring when the two heavyweights lock horns next weekend. "I don’t think he beats Gane. I like Ciryl Gane in this fight," he concluded.
As the fight cards for both UFC 334 and UFC 335 draw closer, opinions from active fighters like Carlos Prates continue to highlight the fine margins and high stakes that define the upper echelons of the sport, setting the stage for what promises to be a pivotal stretch of events for the heavyweight division.
