Josh Hokit torches Tom Aspinall on social media: "Strip that holdout or cut him"
Josh Hokit continues to make noise in the UFC heavyweight division, this time calling on the promotion to deal with Tom Aspinall's absence more definitively.
Josh Hokit is sick of Tom Aspinall's absence as UFC heavyweight champion, tearing him apart on social media and even urging the UFC to either strip him of the belt or release him. However, he didn't stop there, as he also promised to be the most active champion on the roster if he ever captures the title.
Josh Hokit wants an end to championship uncertainty
The inactivity surrounding the UFC heavyweight title picture has more than gotten on Josh Hokit's nerves, but that's only the tip of the iceberg for him. He accused reigning UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall of exaggerating the severity of the eye poke he suffered against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321, which rendered him unable to continue, leading to a no-contest. Aspinall has not fought since and there have hardly been any positive updates regarding his return date, even a year later, as he continues struggling with recovery from multiple eye surgeries relating to Brown syndrome.
He also blasted Aspinall for his signing with Matchroom Talent Agency, a management company owned by popular boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, whose relationship with UFC CEO Dana White soured dramatically following the launch of Zuffa Boxing. If Aspinall cannot fight, then Hokit wants him stripped, while seeking a title fight with current interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane. He has also vowed to do what Merab Dvalishvili couldn't as bantamweight champion and defend a title four times in a year.
"Tom gets an eye poke, gets butt hurt none of us bought it, then hires Dana's enemy Eddie Hearn so he could become a boxing bargaining chip in Eddie's beef with Dana. Then Eddie hits Ariel's anti-Dana propaganda show multiple times to drive the dagger deeper? GTFOH. Strip that holdout or cut him. I'm 10-0 & #4 in the world. Give me @ciryl_gane in '26 & I'll break Merab's defense record in '27."
Whether Hokit successfully persuades the UFC to book him in a fight with Gane remains to be seen. He's 10-0 and coming off a dominant second-round TKO of Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250. However, ex-two-division champion Alex Pereira is also determined to face Gane, having lost to him via second-round TKO, also at UFC Freedom 250. But only time will tell what becomes of the heavyweight title picture.
