Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Polarizing UFC heavyweight contender Josh Hokit responded to Dana White’s discomfort with the prospect of a title reign.

Josh Hokit will fight two-time interim heavyweight titleholder Ciryl Gane in the UFC 334 main event in November. Gane and Hokit will fight in an undisputed heavyweight title bout after Tom Aspinall vacated the belt earlier this month.

Hokit earned the title shot after recent wins over Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis in 2026. Despite his success inside the Octagon, he’s received mixed reception from fight fans and the UFC executives for his conduct outside of the cage.

UFC CEO Dana White recently admitted he ‘doesn’t like anything Josh Hokit says’ and admitted he’ll have to ‘deal with’ Hokit’s antics if he’s victorious at UFC 334. White’s comments came after Hokit’s controversial remarks about former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama in the Octagon at UFC Freedom 250.

Josh Hokit claims he’s secretly ‘Dana White’s favorite fighter’ despite controversies

In a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Hokit responded to White’s less-than-enthusiastic stance on his potential UFC title reign.

“Dana has to say that. Deep down, I’m Dana’s favorite fighter; he can’t wait for my fights,” Hokit said of White.

“At the end of the day, I didn’t join this sport to be liked by anybody. The whole world could be against me. Whether you like me or not, it is what it is…I’m not in this to be accepted and stuff; I’m just here to put on good fights. So if you call my name and have me sign the contract, I’ll give you good fights. That’s the most important thing…

“It’s human nature to want to be liked and have fans, but I’m not going to put on a fake smile and s— for it.”

What is your prediction for Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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