Alexander Volkov hopes Josh Hokit is who he gets to fight for the UFC heavyweight championship.
Hokit (10-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) challenges newly promoted champion Ciryl Gane (14-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) in the UFC 334 main event Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden in New York (Paramount+).
Volkov (30-11 MMA, 14-5 UFC) previously mocked the UFC's decision to go with Hokit for the title fight, calling him "mentally ill," but explained why he's rooting for him to win.
"This sport is unpredictable," Volkov told Helen Yee. "Everybody has a chance to win. Of course, Ciryl Gane has more chances to win, like speaking seriously about it, but it's never predictable. I can bet on Ciryl Gane. For me, best way will be if Josh Hokit wins, and I win my fight, and we meet in a title
shot.
"For me, it will be the easiest fight ever, easier title shot. As I see my fight with Josh Hokit, sorry, Josh Hokit, I don't want to say something bad about you. You are a nice guy. So, this is the easy way, but I don't know what will really happen, but we should probably bet on Gane."
Volkov will try and secure that No. 1 contender spot when he takes on Rizvan Kuniev (14-3-1-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) at UFC 333 on Oct. 24 in Abu Dhabi. The 37-year-old's lone loss in the past four years came in a controversial split decision to Gane at UFC 310.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Alexander Volkov: Josh Hokit would be 'easiest' UFC title fight ever
