Hokit accuses Aspinall of faking eye injury to escape UFC contract before title shot

Josh Hokit, the undefeated heavyweight contender set to challenge Ciryl Gane for the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 334 on November 14 at Madison Square Garden, has accused former champion Tom Aspinall of faking his eye injury to engineer an exit from the UFC.

Aspinall has not competed since his heavyweight title defence against Gane ended in a no contest in October 2025, after Gane poked him in both eyes in the first round. The Englishman subsequently vacated the title, citing ongoing problems with his right eye — a decision that elevated Gane (14-2) to undisputed champion and set up the Gane vs. Hokit (9-0) matchup.

Hokit, speaking to Ariel Helwani, was blunt in his scepticism. “Honestly, I don’t even think that sht’s real,” he said. “I think he has his teammates farting on his pillow, then he goes to sleep, gets pink eye, posts that shit on Instagram like, ‘Hey, everybody, feel bad for me. I can’t fight still.’ He has fake surgery, all that other sht. I think he’s just trying to get out of his deal, if I’m being 100% honest… That sh*t is all fake, gang. It’s not real. I don’t know if he’s paying doctors, but I think he’s trying to get that bag in boxing.”

The accusations are significant given the circumstances. Aspinall’s vacating of the title was the direct catalyst for Hokit receiving his own championship opportunity, meaning the American has a clear personal stake in how the situation is perceived. Still, his claims go well beyond competitive needle — he is explicitly suggesting Aspinall is deceiving medical professionals and the public to pursue a more financially rewarding career in boxing.

Aspinall has not publicly responded to Hokit’s comments. The former champion’s eye issues, which stem from the Gane fight, have not been independently disputed by medical sources cited in available reporting.

Gane’s title defence against the unbeaten Hokit at Madison Square Garden in November shapes up as one of the most intriguing heavyweight bouts in recent UFC history, with the Frenchman defending a title he inherited rather than won outright, and Hokit arriving with a perfect professional record and a willingness to generate headlines well before fight night.