Tom Aspinall’s withdrawal from UFC 334 after a right-eye injury has left Ciryl Gane without the unification bout he was expected to face, handing Josh Hokit an unexpected shot at the undisputed heavyweight title. Hokit, who has surged through the division with a flawless 10-0 record, will now challenge Gane at Madison Square Garden, a fight that former middleweight champion Chris Weidman believes could tilt in Hokit’s favour if he adopts a strategy reminiscent of Cain Velasquez.
Aspinall’s absence comes after a prolonged layoff triggered by an eye poke from Gane at UFC 321 in October 2025, an injury that effectively ended his run as a title contender. With Gane now the undisputed champion, the French striker is set to defend his belt against Hokit, whose rapid rise includes victories over Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis. Despite Hokit’s momentum, many see Gane’s experience against heavyweight elites such as Jon Jones, Francis Ngannou, and Alex Pereira as a significant advantage.
On his Deep Waters podcast, Weidman outlined why Hokit’s relentless wrestling style could pose serious problems for Gane. “If you watch Hokit, some of his fights before the Curtis Blaydes fight, I’ve seen him ragdoll people like Cain Velasquez did back in the day,” Weidman said. “Just non-stop punches from the back, just riding them, rag-dolling them around. He has the potential of rag-dolling Ciryl Gane, for sure, Cain Velasquez style.”
Weidman pointed to Gane’s losses against Ngannou and Jones to illustrate vulnerabilities that Hokit might exploit. “We’ve seen Gane get taken down and get beat up by Francis Ngannou, Jon Jones with the guillotine,” he added. The former champion suggested Gane’s movement-heavy, light-footed approach demands significant cardio, which could be worn down by Hokit’s constant pressure. “I think I’d go Hokit only because I think the style of Gane, being light on your feet and stuff, I think that takes a lot of cardio. Like the ‘Wonderboy’ (Thompson)-type style.”
Weidman described Hokit as a “tough matchup” who could gain the upper hand by gradually winning exchanges and takedowns, draining Gane’s energy over the rounds. “It’s very taxing on the body to be that light on your feet, and I think a guy like Hokit, who’s non-stop pressuring, eventually will start winning exchanges and getting the takedowns,” he said. “I think he wears on Gane. No disrespect to Gane because I think the guy is unbelievable, but I think Hokit is just a tough matchup.”
Hokit’s performance at UFC 327, where he prevailed in a dramatic, all-out war against Blaydes, showed he is more than a grappler. Still, Gane’s striking skills, considered among the best in heavyweight history, present a different challenge. To succeed, Hokit may have to lean heavily on wrestling and relentless pressure to disrupt Gane’s striking rhythm.
The heavyweight title fight at UFC 334 now promises a clash of contrasting styles. Gane’s movement and striking versus Hokit’s wrestling and pressure could produce a tactical battle that tests both fighters’ limits. Weidman’s call for Hokit to channel Velasquez’s style adds an intriguing dimension to the bout, suggesting a physical, grappling-heavy approach could be the key to unseating the French champion.
According to Yahoo Sports.
