UFC heavyweight Josh Hokit challenges Ciryl Gane for title at UFC 334
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
UFC heavyweight Josh Hokit is 4-0 with three knockouts and fights Ciryl Gane for the belt.
The bout caps a year-long rise from unranked contender to Madison Square Garden headliner.
Background
Josh Hokit is a UFC heavyweight contender who joined the promotion in 2025 and is 4-0 with three knockout wins, his only decision coming against Curtis Blaydes. He is also releasing rap tracks under the name J-Word. UFC president and CEO Dana White has said he gave Hokit tough matchups because he 'didn't like some of the things he said,' citing theatrical post-fight interviews including a derogatory remark about WNBA star Brittney Griner. Hokit now headlines at Madison Square Garden against heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane.
How it unfolded
- Aug 2025Hokit earned a UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series.
- Apr 2026Hokit beat Curtis Blaydes by unanimous decision at UFC 327, taking Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses.
- Apr 2026Less than 90 minutes after the Blaydes win, Hokit was booked for UFC White House against Derrick Lewis, winning by second-round TKO.
- Jun 14, 2026Hokit won a heavyweight fight on the South Lawn of the White House at UFC Freedom 250, the first professional sporting event held at the presidential residence.
- Nov 1, 2026Hokit released a diss track targeting Ciryl Gane, Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones.
- Nov 2, 2026Hokit dropped a video for his song 'MSG Freestyle' and revealed his rap name to be J-Word.
- Nov 4, 2026Hokit trolled Alexander Volkov after Volkov's snub by Dana White, and proposed a new 225-pound UFC division to eliminate weight cuts on Jorge Masvidal's podcast.
- Nov 5, 2026Dana White admitted on The Jim Rome Show that he gave Hokit tough matchups because he 'didn't like some of the things he said.'
- Nov 14, 2026Hokit is scheduled to challenge Ciryl Gane for the UFC heavyweight title in the UFC 334 main event at Madison Square Garden.
Key terms
- UFC
- An American mixed martial arts promotion company that organizes fights across weight divisions under unified rules.
- heavyweight
- A mixed martial arts weight division for fighters weighing roughly 206 to 265 pounds.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Dana White said Hokit 'has been overlooked the whole time' and 'deserves this title shot,' adding that like him or hate him, he's fought his way to the top.
- Fighter
- Hokit said he has 'four bonuses in four fights' and is 'here to give them something to judge,' while calling for a new 225-pound division.
Still unverified
Volkov reportedly went to the UFC 333 press conference and asked White from the crowd why he's not fighting for the belt, though it did not appear White recognized him.