\n<\/p>\n
Sean O\u2019Malley is pulling for Josh Hokit this weekend.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Hokit challenges Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden. It\u2019s 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, \u201cThe Incredible Hok\u201d has delivered stellar performances inside the cage, while courting controversy outside of it with pro-wrestling antics and incendiary comments. And Sean O\u2019Malley hopes that train doesn\u2019t get derailed just yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to see Josh Hokit win so bad,\u201d O\u2019Malley said on his YouTube channel. \u201cI\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a five round fight with Ciryl Gane, who is one of the most experienced \u2014 he\u2019s fought the best of the best. His r\u00e9sum\u00e9 is stacked. He\u2019s only 14-2. He hasn\u2019t had that many fights! I guess he had kickboxing fights, but it seems like he\u2019s fought the best of the best in the UFC. Josh Hokit\u2019s fought Derrick Lewis and Curtis Blaydes; good guys, nowhere near the level of guys Ciryl Gane\u2019s fought.\u201d<\/p>\n
An accomplished kickboxer before moving to MMA, Gane\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Hokit, meanwhile, only has 10 career MMA fights, having only started the sport in 2023. After signing to the UFC off Contender Series<\/em> last year, he\u2019s quickly strung together four wins, based primarily off his aggression and wrestling skills. But O\u2019Malley thinks he\u2019s going to need more than just that to beat Gane.<\/p>\n \u201cJosh Hokit is going to have to crack Ciryl Gane early, which puts him in danger, but it\u2019s also one of the only ways he can win this fight,\u201d O\u2019Malley said. \u201cIf 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!<\/p>\n \u201cJosh Hokit has to crack him on the chin, take him down, and fatigue him,\u201d O\u2019Malley added later. \u201cCould he knock him out? Yes. Is it likely? Not early. Could he take him down? I think he\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Press.<\/strong> Dana White turns down press secretary role, President Trump admits he was \u2018sort of kidding\u2019 about job offer.<\/p>\n Response.<\/strong> Kevin Holland responds to Jacobe Smith\u2019s callouts: \u2018What the f*ck is the guy worried about me for?\u2019<\/p>\n Wrestling.<\/strong> Khamzat Chimaev gets new opponent for RAF Abu Dhabi main event with Colby Covington out: \u2018He is scared.\u2019<\/p>\n Return.<\/strong> Shavkat Rakhmonov teases 2027 return.<\/p>\n Combo.<\/strong> Paramount+ planning combo package with HBO Max in early 2027 before fully merging services.<\/p>\n Roundtable.<\/strong> Is Josh Hokit about to be the one true heavyweight king?<\/p>\n UFC 334 Embedded, Episode 1.<\/p>\n Some of the best UFC fights of all time.<\/p>\n Dana White talking to TMZ.<\/p>\n The UFC can\u2019t help you out?<\/p>\n Buckley better watch out, or he might get a 15-minute decision.<\/p>\n Angela Hill with impressions.<\/p>\n Dante Romero (9-8) vs. Grant Neal (12-3)<\/strong>; GFL Buenos Aires vs. Miami, Dec 18.<\/p>\n Matias Ponce (11-5) vs. Omar Morales (11-4)<\/strong>; GFL Buenos Aires vs. Miami, Dec 18.<\/p>\n Franco Rios (4-0) vs. Ethan Burmingham (7-0)<\/strong>; GFL Buenos Aires vs. Miami, Dec 18.<\/p>\n Thomas Juarez (5-2) vs. David Macias (6-0)<\/strong>; GFL Buenos Aires vs. Miami, Dec 18.<\/p>\n Eduardo Cajal (9-5) vs. Jacob Diaz (6-2)<\/strong>; GFL Buenos Aires vs. Miami, Dec 18.<\/p>\n Lionel Abojer (12-4) vs. Dustin Lampros (11-2)<\/strong>; GFL Buenos Aires vs. Miami, Dec 18.<\/p>\n Ryan Martinez (9-1) vs. Kody Cook (6-0)<\/strong>; GFL Buenos Aires vs. Miami, Dec 18.<\/p>\n Nicolas Rodriguez (9-3) vs. Corvan Allen (9-3)<\/strong>; GFL Buenos Aires vs. Miami, Dec 18.<\/p>\n Nicole Artaza (5-3) vs. Pamela Mara (7-4-1)<\/strong>; GFL Buenos Aires vs. Miami, Dec 18.<\/p>\n Julia Pareja (5-2) vs. Melissa Gomez (6-2)<\/strong>; GFL Buenos Aires vs. Miami, Dec 18.<\/p>\n Got questions? I’ve got answers!<\/p>\n Happy Monday!<\/p>\n Do you have questions about the wide world of MMA? How about anything else? Well you’re in luck!<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Thanks! Love y’all!<\/p>\n Rec 3<\/span><\/span>CommentsThin Stroke Comment Icon BubbleReply<\/span><\/span><\/span>Read 44 replies<\/span><\/p>\n Starting to see more and more MMA fighters come out in support of Josh Hokit\u2019s antics. If he wins the title, I imagine that will lead to a flood of imitators.<\/p>\n If you find something you\u2019d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up <\/strong>@AlexanderKlee<\/strong> or <\/strong>@JedKMeshew<\/strong> on Twitter and let us know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on <\/strong>Twitter<\/strong>, <\/strong>Instagram<\/strong>, <\/strong>YouTube<\/strong>, <\/strong>TikTok<\/strong>, and like us on <\/strong>Facebook<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\nSOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n