Sean O’Malley is pulling for Josh Hokit this weekend.
On Saturday, Hokit challenges Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden. It’s obviously a huge opportunity, made all the more impressive by the fact that Hokit only made his UFC debut a year ago. But since joining the UFC, “The Incredible Hok” has delivered stellar performances inside the cage, while courting controversy outside of it with pro-wrestling antics and incendiary comments. And Sean O’Malley hopes that train doesn’t get derailed just yet.
“I want to see Josh Hokit win so bad,” O’Malley said on his YouTube channel. “I’m a big fan of Ciryl Gane. I love his style, I love how he can do that at heavyweight, but I want to see Josh Hokit win. I want to see him continue this f*cking character and be just an absolute menace to the UFC. I am nervous.
“It’s a five round fight with Ciryl Gane, who is one of the most experienced — he’s fought the best of the best. His résumé is stacked. He’s only 14-2. He hasn’t had that many fights! I guess he had kickboxing fights, but it seems like he’s fought the best of the best in the UFC. Josh Hokit’s fought Derrick Lewis and Curtis Blaydes; good guys, nowhere near the level of guys Ciryl Gane’s fought.”
An accomplished kickboxer before moving to MMA, Gane’s only two losses have come against Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones, and this summer he won his second interim heavyweight title with a knockout win over Alex Pereira at UFC White House. Gane was later promoted to full champion after Tom Aspinall suffered a setback in his injury recovery, setting up this fight.
Hokit, meanwhile, only has 10 career MMA fights, having only started the sport in 2023. After signing to the UFC off Contender Series last year, he’s quickly strung together four wins, based primarily off his aggression and wrestling skills. But O’Malley thinks he’s going to need more than just that to beat Gane.
“Josh Hokit is going to have to crack Ciryl Gane early, which puts him in danger, but it’s also one of the only ways he can win this fight,” O’Malley said. “If he can steal the momentum from Ciryl Gane, hurt him early, take the momentum. [And] he has to do that every round. Ciryl Gane is dangerous!
“Josh Hokit has to crack him on the chin, take him down, and fatigue him,” O’Malley added later. “Could he knock him out? Yes. Is it likely? Not early. Could he take him down? I think he’s going to have to just try to mix it up. Take him down, take him down, but f*ck dude, getting anywhere close to Ciryl Gane is going to be so f*cking dangerous.”
Press. Dana White turns down press secretary role, President Trump admits he was ‘sort of kidding’ about job offer.
Response. Kevin Holland responds to Jacobe Smith’s callouts: ‘What the f*ck is the guy worried about me for?’
Wrestling. Khamzat Chimaev gets new opponent for RAF Abu Dhabi main event with Colby Covington out: ‘He is scared.’
Return. Shavkat Rakhmonov teases 2027 return.
Combo. Paramount+ planning combo package with HBO Max in early 2027 before fully merging services.
Roundtable. Is Josh Hokit about to be the one true heavyweight king?
UFC 334 Embedded, Episode 1.
Some of the best UFC fights of all time.
Dana White talking to TMZ.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
The UFC can’t help you out?
Buckley better watch out, or he might get a 15-minute decision.
Angela Hill with impressions.
Dante Romero (9-8) vs. Grant Neal (12-3); GFL Buenos Aires vs. Miami, Dec 18.
Matias Ponce (11-5) vs. Omar Morales (11-4); GFL Buenos Aires vs. Miami, Dec 18.
Franco Rios (4-0) vs. Ethan Burmingham (7-0); GFL Buenos Aires vs. Miami, Dec 18.
Thomas Juarez (5-2) vs. David Macias (6-0); GFL Buenos Aires vs. Miami, Dec 18.
Eduardo Cajal (9-5) vs. Jacob Diaz (6-2); GFL Buenos Aires vs. Miami, Dec 18.
Lionel Abojer (12-4) vs. Dustin Lampros (11-2); GFL Buenos Aires vs. Miami, Dec 18.
Ryan Martinez (9-1) vs. Kody Cook (6-0); GFL Buenos Aires vs. Miami, Dec 18.
Nicolas Rodriguez (9-3) vs. Corvan Allen (9-3); GFL Buenos Aires vs. Miami, Dec 18.
Nicole Artaza (5-3) vs. Pamela Mara (7-4-1); GFL Buenos Aires vs. Miami, Dec 18.
Julia Pareja (5-2) vs. Melissa Gomez (6-2); GFL Buenos Aires vs. Miami, Dec 18.
Got questions? I’ve got answers!
Happy Monday!
Do you have questions about the wide world of MMA? How about anything else? Well you’re in luck!
Like a magic 8 ball, I have all the answers. Ask away, and I will do my best to answer your questions, either here or in a mailbag column.
Thanks! Love y’all!
Starting to see more and more MMA fighters come out in support of Josh Hokit’s antics. If he wins the title, I imagine that will lead to a flood of imitators.
If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKlee or @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let us know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and like us on Facebook.
