TLDR
- Dana White admitted he intentionally gave Josh Hokit harder opponents because he disliked the fighter’s public comments
- Hokit will fight Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title at UFC 334 on November 14 at Madison Square Garden
- The undefeated Hokit earned his title shot with wins over Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis in 2026
- White acknowledged Hokit was overlooked by fans, media, and himself despite passing every test
- Gane enters the championship bout as the betting favorite against the 10-0 challenger
Sources: yardbarker.com | sherdog.com
UFC President Dana White has admitted he intentionally gave Josh Hokit harder opponents because he disliked some of the fighter’s public comments. White made the confession during an appearance on The Jim Rome Show this week.
Hokit will challenge Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight championship in the main event of UFC 334 on November 14 at Madison Square Garden. The undefeated contender earned the title shot despite what White now acknowledges was biased matchmaking.
“I might have threw some tough guys at him, and he passed every test,” White said on the program. He admitted that Hokit has been overlooked “not only by the fans and media, but by me.”
Dana White admits he gave Josh Hokit some tough matchups because he didn't like some of his comments 😅
"I didn't like some of the things he said, so I might've threw some tough guys at him."
(via @jimrome) pic.twitter.com/A5S4xPxlFN
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) November 4, 2026
White Clashed With Hokit Over Controversial Statements
The UFC president has publicly criticized Hokit multiple times for inflammatory remarks. White previously called one of Hokit’s post-fight comments involving Michelle Obama offensive.
During the Jim Rome interview, White referenced another incident. “If you don’t like what Josh Hokit said on the White House lawn that night, guess what?” White said. “In two weeks, you get to see him get punched in the face at Madison Square Garden.”
Despite their personal friction, White acknowledged that Hokit deserved his opportunity based on performance. “Like him or hate him, he fought his way to the top, and there’s no denying that this guy deserves this title shot and belongs there,” White added.
Hokit enters the title fight with a perfect 10-0 professional record. The New Zealand heavyweight has won three fights in 2026 alone.
He defeated Denzel Freeman earlier in the year before earning a unanimous decision over Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 in April. Hokit then stopped former title challenger Derrick Lewis by second-round technical knockout at UFC Freedom 250 in June.
Gane Enters as Betting Favorite
Ciryl Gane holds a 14-2 professional record and enters the fight as the betting favorite. The French heavyweight currently holds the undisputed championship.
White confirmed that “Hokit versus Gane was the fight to make” despite his personal feelings about the challenger. The UFC president said Hokit’s performances left no room for debate about his worthiness as a title contender.
If Hokit wins, he would become one of the UFC’s most divisive champions. White compared a potential Hokit title reign to that of middleweight champion Sean Strickland, another fighter known for controversial public statements.
UFC 334 will air live and free on Paramount+ from Madison Square Garden in New York. The November 14 event marks Hokit’s first appearance in a UFC championship fight after less than a year competing in the heavyweight division’s upper ranks.
