Appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show, the Russian heavyweight responded to Hokit leapfrogging him for the vacant heavyweight championship bout against Ciryl Gane at #UFC334 🗣 “It's very admirable for UFC to put the guy with the serious mental condition to title shot. So, of course he should go in front of me… It’s an incredibly inspiring story for the guy with a mental illness to be fighting for the heavyweight title.”
A Russian heavyweight went on the offensive this week after being bypassed for a shot at the vacant UFC heavyweight title, taking his frustrations public during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show on September 23.
The fighter directed sharp, sarcastic remarks at the UFC's decision to book Hokit against Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight championship at UFC 334. Referencing reports about Hokit's mental health history, the Russian contender offered a pointed, irony-laden response, saying it was "very admirable" of the UFC to award a title shot to "the guy with the serious mental condition" and calling it "an incredibly inspiring story." The remarks stopped well short of a straightforward sporting grievance and instead carried an undisguised edge.
On the other side of that vacant title bout, Gane enters as the division's top-ranked heavyweight. The 36-year-old Frenchman, who trains out of MMA Factory, carries a record of 14 wins and 2 losses and brings an elite striking game to the occasion. Standing six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach, Gane is among the most technically precise heavyweights in the sport, landing 5.29 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 61 percent.
Why it matters
- The Russian contender's public grievance signals genuine tension behind the scenes over how the UFC has ordered its heavyweight title picture.
- Gane, ranked first in the division, now enters his championship bout with added noise surrounding the matchmaking process.
- The comments about Hokit's mental health are certain to draw scrutiny and reaction from within the sport in the days ahead.
- Heavyweight title bouts carry outsized promotional weight, and any controversy around the booking could shape how UFC 334 is framed leading up to fight night.
