Hokit demands Gane title shot after Aspinall vacates UFC heavyweight crown

Josh Hokit staked his claim to a UFC heavyweight title shot on Monday after Tom Aspinall vacated the championship, leaving Ciryl Gane as the undisputed titleholder and the division’s next contender spot wide open.

Aspinall relinquished the belt following a setback in his recovery from eye injuries suffered during his title fight against Gane at UFC 321, where Gane was accused of repeated eye pokes. Interim champion Gane, who had claimed that belt with a win over Alex Pereira at UFC White House earlier this summer, is now the undisputed heavyweight champion and is expected to make his first title defence in the near future.

Hokit wasted little time making his case. “The fans deserve Me vs Gane,” he wrote shortly after Aspinall’s announcement. “I’ll give Ciryl what he has coming. If Alex can win 1 fight in my weight class, I’ll give it to him too, early ‘27. I’ll be the most active champ in the company.”

Pereira, who lost to Gane at UFC White House and has been lobbying for a rematch — partly citing the alleged foul play in that contest — is the other prominent name in the frame for the next title shot.

Hokit’s push is backed by a rapid rise through the heavyweight ranks. He earned his UFC contract via the Contender Series and has since gone 4-0 in the promotion, finishing three of those opponents and collecting four post-fight bonuses along the way. His most recent victory came at UFC White House, where he stopped Derrick Lewis.

The 26-year-old has also cultivated a combative public persona — he was removed from the pre-fight press conference at UFC White House for his behaviour — but his record inside the octagon gives his title ambitions genuine credibility. Whether the UFC opts for the rematch narrative with Pereira or backs the momentum of “The Incredible Hok” remains to be seen.