Heading into UFC 334, Josh Hokit was widely perceived as a loudmouth who could back up his trash talk inside the Octagon. However, his lack of victories against top-five heavyweights and controversial remarks about Michelle Obama had also made him a polarizing figure.
Hokit had plenty of detractors, including Dana White, who previously made scathing comments about his antics at the White House and even expressed concerns about what might happen if the heavyweight ever became champion. However, his five-round war with Ciryl Gane appears to have changed that perception.
Although Gane retained his heavyweight title via unanimous decision, Hokit pushed the Frenchman to his limits in an all-out slugfest. The challenger relentlessly pressured the champion, repeatedly putting him on the back foot with an astonishing pace.
The contest also set a new UFC heavyweight record with 388 combined significant strikes landed over 25 minutes. Both fighters were subsequently rewarded with Fight of the Night honors and $100,000 bonuses.
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More importantly, Hokit finally earned White’s respect. Speaking at the UFC 334 post-fight press conference, the UFC CEO praised the challenger’s relentless approach, saying, “It was an incredible fight. The pace he set was insane, and I think it was freaking everybody out — this smaller guy, the way he was just coming at [Gane].”
White also highlighted the staggering striking numbers produced over five rounds, adding, “But even if you look at the significant strikes, they were doubling every round. The total punch stats were massive, too. If you see the score of the fight, they had it two-to-two going into the last round. I didn’t see it that way, but it doesn’t tell the story of the fight either. You have to see the fight to believe it.”
While White maintained that Gane deserved the victory, he acknowledged that Hokit executed an effective game plan against one of the division’s most technically gifted strikers. He also praised Gane’s championship-round performance, particularly in the fourth and fifth rounds, which silenced critics who had questioned whether the Frenchman’s muscular frame would affect his endurance.
However, the biggest takeaway from White’s assessment was just how dramatically his opinion of Hokit had changed. Admitting that he had previously disliked the heavyweight’s personality and antics, the UFC CEO said, “There’s no doubt that Hokit’s stock goes up. Even with me. I thought this guy was a big-mouth goofball and I hated his schtick and the whole thing. I respect the s**t out of that guy [now]. He is the real deal. Stock went up with me.”
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Hokit’s fighting style has drawn comparisons to Cain Velasquez, albeit with a considerably more chaotic approach. His relentless pressure and willingness to absorb damage could make him a serious problem for the rest of the heavyweight division, particularly given the division’s current lack of depth.
Interestingly, Hokit also revealed that an eye poke he suffered in the opening round affected his vision for the remainder of the contest. Believing that he could have performed even better without the injury, the 29-year-old wasted little time making his next request.
Shortly after the fight, Hokit took to Instagram to call for an immediate rematch, tagging White and several other UFC decision-makers. He wrote, “Immediate rematch, please.”
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However, with the winner of the upcoming Alex Pereira vs. Sergei Pavlovich matchup likely to emerge as the next heavyweight title challenger, Hokit may have to settle for another opponent before getting a second shot at Gane.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
