Josh Hokit calls out Ciryl Gane for UFC 332 as Tom Aspinall's MMA return looms on the horizon
Josh Hokit has proposed a fight with Ciryl Gane for UFC 332, a little over a month away from the event.
American MMA star Josh Hokit has suggested that he's willing to fight interim UFC heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane at the UFC 332 event.
Josh Hokit capitalizes amid uncertainty surrounding Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane rematch
Josh Hokit's aforementioned suggestion comes at a time when the long-awaited UFC heavyweight championship unification matchup between Gane and UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall -- their rematch -- is in limbo.
Gane previously fought Aspinall for the latter's 265-pound belt at UFC 321 in October of last year. Their fight barely lasted a round, as the Frenchman eye-poked the champion, which incapacitated him and resulted in the matchup ending in an NC (No Contest).
Although Aspinall retained his title, he was tasked with the challenge of traversing a long and arduous road to recovery. The Englishman underwent multiple eye surgeries, which he deemed horrific.
That said, Aspinall recently announced that he's been fully cleared to train and wants his MMA comeback fight booked. Meanwhile, Gane captured the second interim UFC heavyweight championship of his mixed martial arts career. "Bon Gamin" did so in the fight that followed last year's controversial Aspinall matchup.
Gane, in his latest Octagon appearance, secured a spectacular second-round TKO victory against former two-division UFC champion Alex Pereira in the latter's heavyweight divisional debut. Their clash co-headlined UFC Freedom 250 at the White House in June, and saw Gane's incredible performance earn him the interim UFC heavyweight title that was at stake.
Intriguingly, undefeated UFC heavyweight star Josh Hokit also last fought at UFC Freedom 250. "The Incredible Hok" put on a dominant display of his overall MMA arsenal to stop perennial contender Derrick Lewis by way of second-round TKO.
Considering the variables at play, Hokit had since been adamant about wanting to fight either Ciryl Gane or Alex Pereira. He, however, has lately indicated that he'd like Pereira to get a win under his belt and regain his "aura" before he beats the Brazilian in their oft-discussed potential grudge match.
Hokit has, as such, shifted his focus more toward a possible fight against Ciryl Gane. He's said to be capitalizing on the apparent delay in the Gane vs. Aspinall rematch materializing. On that note, Hokit has now taken to X and responded to a netizen who hinted that he could fight Gane at UFC 332.
Interestingly, the UFC has yet to announce the main event for UFC 332, which is booked to be held at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on October 3.
Reports suggest that reigning UFC women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko is set to defend her title against Natalia Silva in the event's co-headliner. Moreover, an interim UFC light heavyweight title clash featuring Jiri Prochazka and Paulo Costa is also rumored to be a part of the card.
Well, seemingly calling out Gane for UFC 332, Hokit wrote, "@ufc I'm ready if @ciryl_gane is ?"
@ufc I'm ready if @ciryl_gane is ? https://t.co/7KLFGGiHmt
— The Incredible Hok (@Josh_HokitUFC) August 22, 2026
Josh Hokit and other young stars are making waves in the UFC heavyweight division
The 28-year-old Josh Hokit boasts a professional MMA record of 10 victories and zero defeats. The California-born fighter announced his arrival with an impressive TKO win over Guilherme Uriel in the DWCS (Dana White's Contender Series) in August of last year.
He's gone from strength to strength since, having later made his UFC main roster debut and accruing a 4-0 record inside the Octagon. The amateur wrestling veteran and former NFL player is one of multiple young rising stars in the UFC heavyweight division, namely ex-NFL star Anthony Wint, Olympic gold medalist freestyle wrestler Gable Steveson, and BJJ maestro and leg-lock specialist Valter Walker.
