Unranked to title contender: Josh Hokit drops rap diss track ahead of UFC 334 heavyweight clash

Josh Hokit will headline Madison Square Garden against UFC heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane at UFC 334 on Nov. 14 — and he has marked the occasion by releasing a rap diss track aimed squarely at his opponent and several of the division’s biggest names.

The song, titled “MSG Freestyle,” was posted to Hokit’s YouTube channel under his rap alias J-Word. Beyond Gane, the track takes aim at former heavyweight champions Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, as well as recent rivals Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria.

The release adds another layer of colour to one of the more remarkable stories in MMA in 2026. Hokit earned his UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in August 2025 and quickly built momentum with stoppage wins over Max Gimenis and Denzel Freeman. The real turning point came at UFC 327 in April, when Hokit outpointed Curtis Blaydes — a past title challenger — via unanimous decision in what many observers called one of the greatest heavyweight bouts in company history.

Less than 90 minutes after that result was confirmed, Hokit was already booked again, this time against Derrick Lewis at UFC White House. He finished Lewis in the second round by TKO.

Gane also featured on the White House card, stopping Alex Pereira to claim the interim heavyweight title. With Tom Aspinall subsequently vacating the undisputed belt, Gane was elevated to full champion — setting up the Nov. 14 collision with Hokit at MSG.

For Hokit, the fight represents a journey from unranked prospect to championship headliner in a matter of months. Whether “J-Word” becomes a footnote or a calling card may depend on what happens in the main event.