Stipe Miocic has weighed in on Josh Hokit’s controversial persona as the American prepares to challenge Ciryl Gane for the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 334 on 14 November. Hokit’s provocative style has drawn strong reactions, contrasting sharply with Miocic’s own reserved approach during his time as champion.
Hokit, 28, will face Gane, 36, who defends the undisputed belt for the first time after being promoted from interim champion. Gane earned the interim title by defeating Alex Pereira in June and was elevated to undisputed champion three months later when Tom Aspinall relinquished the belt due to ongoing eye injury complications. The injury came after multiple fouls by Gane in their October fight, which ended in a first-round no-contest.
While Gane’s fouls received criticism, Hokit’s behaviour has sparked even more controversy. The American embraces a WWE-style character, stirring tension with his remarks and actions. At the UFC’s White House event in June, Hokit drew significant backlash after calling former First Lady Michelle Obama a “man” following his stoppage of Derrick Lewis. He also disrupted a press conference in May, leading to his removal by security after insulting Pereira and Ilia Topuria.
Miocic, 44, who retired in 2024 after a TKO loss to Jon Jones, said he does not share Hokit’s approach but acknowledged the promotional value it carries. “In terms of [Hokit’s] character, I guess it’s each to his own. It’s not my style, that’s not how I do things,” Miocic told The Independent via Casino.org. “It’s a shtick. I don’t really care about all that, but if I’d have thought about that a bit more and acted that way during my fighting days, maybe I would have made more money.”
Miocic’s career was defined by a more stoic presence in the cage and during media engagements. He held the UFC heavyweight title twice, first from 2016 to 2018 and then from 2019 until 2021. After retiring following his loss to Jones, Miocic watched as the heavyweight division remained unsettled. Jones vacated the title in summer 2025 after declining a $30 million offer to fight Aspinall, who had been interim champion. Aspinall’s reign as undisputed champion ended prematurely when his fight against Gane was ruled a no-contest due to Gane’s fouls.
Reflecting on Hokit’s antics, Miocic said, “I’m not really worried about it. When I was fighting, I was there to fight. I’m not there to promote. UFC’s a promotional company, they can promote me if they want. Sometimes I just think he's a little too much.”
Miocic also offered thoughts on the upcoming fight and the division’s future. He discussed the possible outcomes of Gane versus Hokit, a potential rematch between Gane and Aspinall, and even a bout pitting Hokit against Aspinall. While he refrained from detailed predictions, Miocic’s comments suggested he remains engaged with the heavyweight title picture despite his retirement.
The heavyweight title scene has been turbulent since Miocic’s retirement in 2024. The division’s top fighters have changed hands amid injuries and controversies, with Hokit’s brash style adding a new dynamic ahead of UFC 334. The event will test whether Hokit’s promotional tactics translate into success against a more traditional champion like Gane.
According to Yahoo Sports.
