Hokit brands fighters 'two-faced' and singles out Pimblett after UFC 329 outburst

Josh Hokit has accused Paddy Pimblett and fighters in general of being “two-faced” following Pimblett’s post-fight comments at UFC 329, where the Liverpool lightweight declared himself the new face of the UFC after stopping Benoit St. Denis in under a minute.

Pimblett (24-4) put St. Denis (17-4) to sleep in the co-main event, earning a performance bonus in the process. With the main event ending abruptly after Conor McGregor suffered a leg injury in the opening sequence — handing Max Holloway the victory — Pimblett effectively closed the show and wasted little time making his feelings known.

“Oh my god, McGregor’s done already? Well, he is finished,” Pimblett said in his post-fight interview. “The new boy is in town. The main man is here. I can become the face of the organization now.”

Those remarks drew a sharp response from Hokit, a UFC heavyweight who has built his own reputation on polarising trash talk backed by eye-catching performances. Writing on X, “The Incredible Hok” argued that fighters only show respect to one another when it suits them — and used Pimblett’s comments as evidence.

“Fighters are the most two-faced people in the world,” Hokit wrote. “Nothing but respect and bow downs to one another when it’s convenient… and you wonder why I do what I do.”

Hokit’s broader point was that his own outspoken behaviour is no different from what other fighters do when the cameras are on them after a big win. In his view, the criticism directed at him is selective, given how quickly his peers abandon the mutual-respect code the moment an opportunity for self-promotion arises.

Pimblett’s performance at UFC 329 was undeniably spectacular, and his claim to a higher profile in the organisation carries some weight after the main event collapsed so quickly. Whether his comments about McGregor and his own standing in the UFC will be received as confident or callous remains a matter of debate — but Hokit, for one, has made his verdict clear.