Josh Hokit wasted zero time making his case for UFC gold after Tom Aspinall vacated the heavyweight title on Monday. Aspinall officially gave up his championship after yet another setback in his recovery from the eye injuries he picked up fighting Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 last October. That move clears the path for the UFC heavyweight division to get back to normal, and guess who’s calling his shot? Hokit wants first crack at the belt.
The Heavyweight Belt is Up for Grabs and Hokit Ain’t Holding Back
So, Aspinall is out, and the division is wide open. Gane already beat Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 back in June to snatch an interim title, so he’s probably gonna be upgraded to undisputed champ real soon. But Hokit, man, he wants it. He fired off a challenge saying, “The fans deserve Me vs Gane. I’ll give Ciryl what he has coming.” Talk about direct! Hokit also threw down the gauntlet for Pereira, adding, “If Alex can win 1 fight in my weight class, I’ll give it to him too, early ’27. I’ll be the most active champ in the company.” The guy’s got a plan, and it’s all about action.
Hokit Trashes Pereira’s Case: “Easy Decision”
Pereira has been non-stop campaigning for an immediate rematch with Gane since UFC Freedom 250, even accusing the French fighter of using illegal strikes to the back of the head during their South Lawn battle. But Hokit? He’s completely dismissing Pereira’s claim. He says Pereira should have to *earn* his way back after getting stopped by Gane in less than two rounds. Hokit doubled down on Monday, telling fans to “judge us based on our last 3 performances.” He then laid it out: “No comparison. One guy has had the @UFC marketing machine behind him for the last 5 yrs, the other is so much better than everyone else that I troll & win, while still making a Curtis Blaydes fight exciting. Alex is 1-2 … I’m 3-0. Easy decision.” Hokit, with his perfect 10-0 record, is unbeaten in four UFC fights, including those back-to-back wins over veterans Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis. The dude’s got the stats to back up the talk.
The “Incredible Hok” Is More Than Just Skills
Hokit’s in-cage talent is only half the story. His public persona is an absolute sideshow for the UFC, with him often going full oddball character in interviews and dropping x-rated Seussian rhyming couplets at pressers and after fights. He truly lives by the “any attention is good attention” mantra. He even took it a step too far at UFC Freedom 250, making grotesquely insulting remarks about former U.S. first lady Michele Obama after his win over Lewis, which UFC CEO Dana White has repeatedly condemned. But with Aspinall stepping aside, despite all the bluster, it looks like “The Incredible Hok’s” moment might have finally arrived. He’s clearly eyeing that undisputed title, and the division just got a whole lot more interesting.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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