​Josh Hokit is positioning himself for a heavyweight title shot in the UFC, despite the current limelight around Ciryl Gane and Tom Aspinall. With heavyweight king Tom Aspinall sidelined by an eye injury suffered during his first title defense against Gane last October—an fight that ended in a no contest—Gane later captured the interim title with a technical knockout of Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250. Hokit has weighed in on all the major players in the heavyweight division, sparking attention with his latest social-media post.
Pereira’s win over Gane wasn’t without controversy, as Pereira has repeatedly accused Gane of fouling by striking the back of his head, a claim he has pressed with veteran referee Herb Dean. In response, Hokit took to social media to mock Pereira’s complaints and suggested that Aspinall should be cut from the UFC roster. Hokit believes Gane has made Aspinall quit and argues that Gane should be recognized as the undisputed heavyweight champion.
Hokit’s post also outlined his readiness to fight Gane in September, with a bold offer to permit Pereira a title shot soon after if he wins. “This crybaby has lost all of his aura. Here’s an idea UFC. Cut Tom. Ciryl is the undisputed champ anyways in my opinion. He made Tom quit. Tom’s manager is trying to play games. Give me Ciryl in September and when I win I will give Alex Pereira a chance to regain his self-esteem in November or December. Then we’ll have a champ who is willing to fight all the time,” Hokit wrote on X.
The unbeaten heavyweight, who is 10-0, has gained notoriety for his rapid rise and colorful persona, including multiple characters and high-profile trash talk. He earned a notable win by stopping Derrick Lewis on the same card where Gane defeated Pereira. Hokit’s outspoken stance comes as he eyes a UFC return and an opportunity to disrupt the current heavyweight hierarchy.