Daniel Cormier made a case for Josh Hokit getting the next shot at the UFC heavyweight championship.
Tom Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) relinquished his title after ongoing complications with his eyes. Aspinall underwent multiple surgeries after getting poked during his UFC 321 title defense against Ciryl Gane last October, which was ruled a no contest.
After Gane (14-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) finished Alex Pereira to capture the interim belt at UFC Freedom 250 in June, Aspinall was gearing up for the rematch, but an accident in training left him medically uncleared to compete. With Aspinall letting go of his belt, Gane is expected to be promoted to undisputed champion, but who does he face next?
"Ciryl Gane should defend the heavyweight championship against
Josh Hokit. That's the fight," Cormier said on his YouTube channel. "I know that Josh Hokit annoys some. I know that Josh Hokit has come at me. I know that Josh Hokit can be a bit much. But I believe that if you're moving on from Tom Aspinall right now, I believe Josh Hokit should be some part of the next heavyweight title fight. His antics, fighting ability, his willingness to stand and fight the way that he fights, all those reasons are why Josh Hokit should be fighting for the UFC heavyweight championship next against Ciryl Gane.
"He will compete with him because he's not afraid of him. He will sell. Even in that selling, he is pissing people off. He will bring eyes to the event. Josh Hokit has attacked Alex Pereira at a White House press conference, he's beaten Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis since getting into the UFC, he is undefeated, he is brash, he's cocky. Josh Hokit is the type of heavyweight contender that, even if you show up to hate him, you will still show up. I have no doubt in my mind it should be Hokit fighting for the UFC heavyweight championship."
Both Pereira and Hokit have been campaigning to face Gane. Hokit's star catapulted after a Fight of the Year contender against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 then a knockout of Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250 in the span of two months.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC analyst makes compelling case for Josh Hokit title shot: 'No doubt in my mind'
