Hokit Fires Back At White's Title Concerns

UFC heavyweight title challenger Josh Hokit has responded to Dana White's admitted discomfort with the prospect of him wearing championship gold.

Hokit meets two-time interim titleholder Ciryl Gane in the UFC 334 main event this November for the vacant heavyweight belt after Tom Aspinall relinquished the strap earlier this month. The polarizing contender earned his shot with back-to-back victories over Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis in 2026, but his conduct outside the cage has drawn mixed reactions from fans and UFC brass alike.

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White's Reluctant Stance On Hokit Title Win

White recently told reporters he doesn't like anything Hokit says and acknowledged he'll have to deal with the heavyweight's antics if he claims the title at UFC 334. Those remarks followed Hokit's controversial comments about former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama in the Octagon at UFC Freedom 250, per BJ Penn.

Hokit pushed back on White's public stance during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. "Dana has to say that. Deep down, I'm Dana's favorite fighter; he can't wait for my fights," Hokit said, according to the outlet. "At the end of the day, I didn't join this sport to be liked by anybody. The whole world could be against me. Whether you like me or not, it is what it is."

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The heavyweight contender added that authenticity matters more to him than popularity. He said he's not in the sport to be accepted and won't put on a fake smile to win over critics. Hokit acknowledged the human desire to be liked but insisted his focus remains on delivering compelling fights when the UFC calls his name.

Hokit and Gane square off at UFC 334 in November with the undisputed heavyweight championship on the line.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Josh Hokit hits back at Dana White’s admission about potential UFC title win