Daniel Cormier isn`t convinced by Alex Pereira`s explanation for his recent social media activity.
Earlier this week, the former two-division UFC champion posted on X (formerly Twitter) expressing disappointment, stating he felt the UFC had “played with” him following a message he reportedly received from the promotion. Shortly after, Pereira claimed on his Instagram page that he had been “hacked” and insisted he maintains a “great relationship with UFC.”
During his show Good Guy/Bad Guy with Chael Sonnen, Cormier voiced his strong disbelief regarding Pereira`s story about the incident.
“First off, Pereira’s a liar,” Cormier stated directly. “Pereira did not get hacked [on Wednesday]. Pereira might’ve tweeted something, and then somebody called him and was like, ‘Yo, calm down. Let’s chill.’”
He further emphasized his doubt: “I don’t believe the hack thing, bro. It’s too convenient. It was too specific. I’m saying it publicly.”
The conversation arose as the two former fighters discussed UFC executive Hunter Campbell`s recent visit to Dagestan to meet with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and his team. Although details weren`t made public, it`s assumed Campbell, Makhachev, and his management discussed future plans. UFC CEO Dana White later confirmed at the UFC 315 press conference that Makhachev`s next opponent would be decided after the welterweight title fight between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena this Saturday.
Cormier speculated that a high-ranking UFC figure wouldn`t travel to Dagestan solely to meet one champion under Rizvan Magomedov`s management umbrella. This led him to believe that Pereira, who lost his light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 in March, might have vented his frustration publicly as a result.
Explaining his theory, Cormier said, “So my thought is while Hunter was there to meet Islam, guess who else Rizvan Magomedov manages? … he also manages Ankalaev.” He described this as “just me hoop dreaming.” Cormier continued, “While he’s in Dagastan, he’s speaking to Islam about the fight… he goes, ‘What about you Ankalaev? Are you available?’ Ankalaev is like, ‘OK, I can fight,’ and then you go to Pereira and go, ‘Pereira, are you available?’ And Alex is like, ‘Well it’s a short time to get ready.’ ‘OK, Alex, we’re going to give somebody else this title fight.’”
He concluded his speculation: “[Then] Alex gets mad, goes to the internet, puts that up there, gets a call going, ‘Hey man.’ That’s my thought. That’s what happened. So, yes, while Hunter was in Dagestan, I think it was a two-for-one call. … I think he spoke to Magomed and he spoke to Islam.”
Cormier asserted his confidence in this possibility: “I don’t know this as fact, but I know this game enough to put that together and feel pretty confidently to say it on ESPN.”
