Josh Hokit rips Alexander Volkov, teases move to light heavyweight

Undefeated heavyweight contender Josh Hokit will challenge Ciryl Gane for the UFC title at Madison Square Garden on November 14, and he has fired back at Alexander Volkov's dismissal of his credentials.

Volkov, who has won two consecutive decisions over Jailton Almeida and Waldo Cortes-Acosta, suggested that Hokit would be an easy matchup for Gane and predicted the champion's victory. Hokit (10-0) responded by highlighting the quality of his own wins and Volkov's losses. The unbeaten American noted that he has defeated both Derrick Lewis and Curtis Blaydes—fighters who have beaten Volkov in the past. Blaydes, Hokit pointed out, also defeated Jailton Almeida and Rizvan Kuniev, the latter of whom Volkov is scheduled to face at UFC 333 on October 24 in Abu Dhabi.

Hokit used the comparison to question Volkov's path forward. He noted that Gane, whom Volkov has already faced twice and lost to both times, is the current champion. Through a series of posts on social media, Hokit argued that even if Volkov eventually earns another title shot, he will have already moved to the light heavyweight division and begun dominating that weight class. Hokit also criticized Volkov's fighting style, describing his recent performances as "zero finishes, pure boring." The challenger's confidence in his matchup with Gane appears unshaken by outside criticism.