The UFC heavyweight division crowned a undisputed champion, with Ciryl Gane inheriting the throne after Tom Aspinall recently vacated the title. The Frenchman, who previously held the interim belt, now has his first championship defense lined up against Josh Hokit at UFC 334.
As Ariel Helwani reported, Gane was initially expected to meet Aspinall at Madison Square Garden before the Englishman’s withdrawal forced the UFC to find a replacement. Hokit ultimately got the call, earning the biggest opportunity of his career with an unblemished 10-0 professional record.
Since earning his contract through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2025, Hokit has wasted little time making a name for himself. He has won all four of his Octagon appearances, securing three victories in six months. His recent run includes a dominant knockout of Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250 and a chaotic, Fight of the Year-worthy clash with Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327.
Despite his impressive start, Hokit faces a significant step up in competition against the more experienced Gane. Questions remain over whether the undefeated heavyweight can dethrone the Frenchman, but former UFC champion Jon Jones sees a path for the newcomer to pull off the upset.
Jon Jones Believes Josh Hokit Has a Real Chance of Beating Ciryl Gane at UFC 334
In a recent interview with The Schmo, Jones suggested that Gane could have his hands full against Hokit, who, like the former UFC champion, is a product of Jackson Wink MMA. Jones praised the undefeated heavyweight’s progress and the coaching behind his recent success.
He said, “Josh looks great right now. He’s doing a great job; obviously he’s coached by some of the best in the world. I’ve always supported wrestlers and backed wrestlers.”
Jones also expressed his support for both fighters but admitted that Gane’s success would reflect well on their shared gym. He added, “I want to see everyone go on and live healthy lifestyles and do great things in business and family, so I’m really rooting for everybody. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that the more people Ciryl Gane beats, it really just shows the specialness of our family and our team.”
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When asked for his prediction for UFC 334, Jones backed Hokit as a potential winner while acknowledging that a victory for Gane would also benefit their team’s reputation.
“So my prediction is that I believe Hokit very well could win, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that it doesn’t make our brand look great when Ciryl Gane beats people. So may the best man win.”
Jones knows firsthand how dangerous Gane can be. The two met at UFC 285 in 2023, when Jones made his heavyweight debut and submitted the Frenchman with a guillotine choke in under three minutes to become a two-division champion.
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Jones also shared his thoughts on the upcoming clash between Alex Pereira and Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335. He felt Pereira looked hesitant during his June 14 appearance and expected the Brazilian to give Gane more problems. As for the Pereira-Pavlovich matchup, Jones kept his prediction simple, opting for the familiar answer that the best man should win.