Dana White is nervous about the idea of Josh Hokit becoming champ! Dana White is not a fan of the idea of Josh Hokit becoming the heavyweight champion as the controversial star has brought a lot of eyeballs onto his fights and has now earned a shot at the throne. White said he does not like anything Hokit says and has a lot of thoughts about him becoming champ but regardless of his opinions Hokit has earned his way to gold and will put it all on the line against Ciryl Gane at Madison Square Garden.
Dana White has publicly expressed his reservations about Josh Hokit potentially becoming the UFC heavyweight champion, acknowledging that while he has strong personal feelings about the polarizing contender, Hokit has earned his title shot through performance inside the octagon.
White made clear he is no fan of Hokit, stating he dislikes what Hokit says and has serious reservations about seeing him wear heavyweight gold. Still, the UFC president acknowledged that his own opinions are secondary to what happens in competition, and Hokit has fought his way into contention regardless of the controversy surrounding him. The outspoken heavyweight has drawn significant attention to his fights and will now put his title hopes on the line against Ciryl Gane at Madison Square Garden.
Standing across from Hokit will be Gane, the French heavyweight ranked number one in the division. The 36-year-old out of MMA Factory in France carries a professional record of 14 wins and 2 losses, and at six-foot-four with a reach of 81 inches, he is one of the most physically imposing and technically refined fighters in the heavyweight landscape. Gane lands 5.29 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 61 percent, numbers that rank among the best at 265 pounds.
Why it matters
- A Hokit victory would install one of the UFC's most controversial personalities as the face of the heavyweight division
- Gane, the top-ranked heavyweight contender, enters as a technically elite striker with the size and reach to present problems for any opponent
- The heavyweight title picture at 265 pounds will be significantly reshaped by whoever emerges from Madison Square Garden
- White's public discomfort with a potential Hokit reign adds an unusual narrative layer to an already high-stakes bout
