Josh Hokit claims Donald Trump promised to RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES if he beats Ciryl Gane! Hokit says he's fighting for more than just the UFC heavyweight title: 🗣️ “I have to win for the people… My post fight speech is just the list, reading it in front of New York.” And apparently, he's not done with his bizarre Michelle Obama callouts either. 💀
Josh Hokit says his planned title challenge against Ciryl Gane carries political weight, claiming that Donald Trump promised to push for a release of the Epstein files if he beats the heavyweight champion.
Hokit made the claim in a series of remarks reported on November 9, 2026. He said he is fighting for more than the UFC heavyweight title and framed a win as something he has to deliver "for the people." He also said his post-fight speech would consist of reading out the list in front of a New York crowd. The claim comes from Hokit himself, and there is no indication that Trump has said anything on the subject. Hokit also has not dropped his unusual callouts of Michelle Obama.
The champion
Gane, 36, holds the heavyweight title with a 14-2 record. The Frenchman, who trains at MMA Factory, stands six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach. His striking numbers are a hallmark of his career: 5.29 significant strikes landed per minute at 61 percent accuracy. He averages 0.68 takedowns and 0.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
His recent form is notable. In his most recent recorded fight, on June 14, 2026 at UFC Freedom 250, Gane knocked out Alex Pereira in the second round of a title fight. Before that, his October 2025 title bout with Tom Aspinall at UFC 321 ended in a no contest when it could not continue in the first round. Before that came a split-decision win over Alexander Volkov in December 2024.
Why it matters
- Gane's accuracy and output make him one of the more technical strikers at heavyweight, and a challenger would have to deal with his reach advantage of 206 centimetres.
- The champion is coming off a second-round stoppage in a title fight, so he enters any defence with momentum.
- Hokit's pitch turns a title fight into a political talking point, though nothing in his remarks shows that the claim has been addressed by anyone other than him.
How the fight itself comes together remains to be seen, but Hokit has made clear he intends to use the platform for more than a belt.
