Josh Hokit says he would welcome a fight against Tom Aspinall if he becomes UFC heavyweight champion at UFC 334, but he is not convinced that Aspinall intends to return to the Octagon.
Josh Hokit is already looking beyond his upcoming heavyweight title fight against Ciryl Gane, with Tom Aspinall potentially featuring in his plans if he captures the championship at UFC 334. Hokit and Gane are scheduled to headline UFC 334 on November 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York, with the undisputed heavyweight title on the line.
Ahead of the matchup, Hokit addressed the possibility of facing Aspinall, making it clear that he would be willing to defend the belt against the British heavyweight if the opportunity presented itself. Speaking during Wednesday’s media day, Hokit said he would not keep the division waiting if he became champion.
“When I’m champion, anybody can get a fight,” Hokit said at Wednesday’s media day. “Anybody’s going to be able to get a fight. I’m not going to hold the belt and be sidelined. Anybody can get it. We’ll see if Aspinall comes back, and we’ll see. However, Hokit questioned whether Aspinall is interested in returning to MMA competition.
“I don’t think he wants to come back. You signed with Eddie Hearn, Dana [White’s] archnemesis. To me, that’s like you’re just trying to get to the money, get a money fight in in boxing. So we’ll see if they give him a price to work with in the UFC, but, I mean, Tom Aspinall wearing glasses, I’m whooping asses, entertaining the masses, in the meantime. So yeah, if it makes sense, anybody can get it.”
Hokit’s comments were not limited to Aspinall’s extended absence from competition. He also pointed to the former champion’s association with boxing promoter Eddie Hearn as a possible indication that Aspinall could be looking towards a lucrative boxing opportunity.
“You signed with Eddie Hearn, Dana [White’s] archnemesis. To me, that’s like you’re just trying to get to the money, get a money fight in in boxing,” Hokit said. The heavyweight contender suggested that a potential return to the UFC could depend on whether the promotion offers Aspinall a deal that satisfies him.
Nevertheless, Hokit insisted that he would remain active rather than allow the heavyweight division to stall while waiting for another fighter.
Aspinall’s absence follows his title fight against Gane, which ended in a no-contest after accidental eye pokes left the British fighter unable to continue. The incident happened during their heavyweight championship contest in October 2025, and Aspinall subsequently dealt with ongoing eye-related complications that kept him out of competition. During his absence, Gane defeated Alex Pereira at UFC White House to claim the interim heavyweight championship.
Following Aspinall’s decision to vacate the title in September 2026, Gane was elevated to undisputed champion. Hokit now has the opportunity to take the title from Gane, but he must first get past the Frenchman before any discussion of a potential Aspinall matchup can become a realistic next step. Hokit has enjoyed a rapid rise since making his UFC debut in 2025. He has recorded four consecutive victories in the promotion, including a notable performance against Curtis Blaydes and a victory over Derrick Lewis at UFC White House.
The undefeated heavyweight believes his wrestling background and years of preparation have brought him to this opportunity. He also sees winning the championship as a chance to bring renewed activity to a division that has spent considerable time without a consistently active champion.
“I think it would mean that Gotham is saved,” Hokit said. “The heavyweight division is saved. The future is born, the past will be put in a casket. That’s what I think. I don’t know if the heavyweight division has been cursed for these amount of years, but they haven’t had an active champion in a while, and so I’m here to give them that.”
For Hokit, the immediate priority remains Gane. A victory at UFC 334 would make him the new heavyweight champion and put him in a position to decide who receives his first title defense. Aspinall could be an option if he returns, but Hokit has made it clear that he does not intend to wait I definitely
