Josh Hokit may not be everybody’s favorite but he certainly had the crowd on his side at the UFC 334 pre-fight press conference.
Wearing goggles, a pad on his neck and a protective cup, Hokit ratcheted up his trash talk with a very receptive New York crowd behind him. While he’s the challenger heading into the title fight, Hokit enjoyed a raucous crowd living and breathing on his every word including when he asked them to get behind him in ai chant against Gane.
“I want you to yell at the top of your lungs ‘F*ck Ciryl Gane’ on three!” Hokit shouted to the crowd. “Hey Ciryl, how’s your mom doing? Get on Facetime, I don’t give a f*ck. You know what I’m saying?
“This is the champion? Get the f*ck out of here bitch.”
Hokit also send a rather loud message to the rest of the heavyweight division and anybody complaining about him getting a title shot after only four wins in the UFC.
“F*ck the division,” Hokit shouted. “F*ck Ciryl Gane. It’s the end of this man’s career. Ciryl Gane, say goodbye to your career.”
While UFC CEO Dana White admitted that he wasn’t a fan of Hokit’s “schtick,” he defended him getting the title shot on Saturday.
For his part, Hokit didn’t seem bothered that White wasn’t a fan of his antics and said ultimately his boss really just cares about exciting fights and that’s what he provides.
“All the shenanigans aside, I’m the one in this division putting on good fights,” Hokit said.
While the vast majority of his energy was aimed at trash talking Gane, Hokit even took a moment to react to former UFC light heavyweight and middleweight champion Alex Pereira taking a seat in the front row during the press conference.
Hokit spent weeks blasting Pereira and potentially setting up a future fight between them before he was granted his title shot at UFC 334.
As soon as he saw the Brazilian sit down, Hokit stood up and stuck his middle finger in the air before addressing Pereira directly.
“I’m going to chama on his mama,” Hokit said. “He ain’t going to do shit about it. F*ck you.”
