Josh Hokit wants Herb Dean to referee potential Ciryl Gane fight

Undefeated heavyweight Josh Hokit is calling for Herb Dean to serve as referee if he meets Ciryl Gane inside the Octagon, according to Sherdog. The 10-0 contender made the unusual request despite Dean facing heavy criticism for his officiating during Gane's second-round stoppage of Alex Pereira at UFC White House earlier this month.

Dean drew fire for failing to issue warnings as Gane landed what many observers considered multiple strikes to the back of Pereira's head during the interim heavyweight title fight. The Frenchman has developed a pattern of illegal shots — his earlier title challenge against Tom Aspinall ended in a no-contest after a double eye poke. Pereira has since claimed he warned Dean about potential fouls during the pre-fight rules meeting.

Hokit's tongue-in-cheek callout on social media

Hokit addressed the controversy with characteristic bravado on social media. "The Incredible Hok's eyes would break Ciryl Gane's fingers and the back of my head would shatter his elbow," he wrote on X. "I insist that Herb ref our fight."

The post-fight fallout has split the heavyweight division. Pereira launched a campaign against illegal strikes, with Alexander Volkanovski among those publicly supporting the former champion's stance. Gane now holds a 14-2 record but carries a reputation for pushing the boundaries of what officials allow.

Hokit continued his social media run by mocking both Pereira and Aspinall in follow-up posts. He remains one of the few active voices defending the status quo at heavyweight, a division that will likely sort itself out when the UFC announces its fall schedule in the coming weeks.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Josh Hokit lobbies for Herb Dean to ref potential fight vs. Ciryl Gane