Matt Brown defends Josh Hokit but admits there was a more deserving contender for a title shot at UFC 334

Josh Hokit, with just four UFC fights on his record, will challenge Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title at UFC 334 in November—a meteoric rise that has drawn both praise and criticism. The 28-year-old heavyweight has finished three of his four wins, including a standout Fight of the Year performance against Curtis Blaydes, but his ascent has been fueled as much by controversial behaviour and outlandish trash talk as by his octagon accomplishments.

Retired welterweight Matt Brown recently defended Hokit's antics on The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast, arguing that the UFC benefits from polarising figures who generate conversation and intrigue. "You've got to have guys that you don't like," Brown said, noting that even UFC CEO Dana White has expressed displeasure with Hokit's conduct. Brown drew a parallel to Conor McGregor, praising the Irish fighter's trash-talk prowess while cautioning that McGregor eventually crossed ethical lines—particularly with comments about Khabib Nurmagomedov's family and religion, and Dustin Poirier's wife—that began to alienate fans.

Brown warned Hokit to find balance, pointing to the fighter's controversial remarks about Michelle Obama at a UFC event in June as a potential turning point. "Right now, he's at that threshold where he's pissing us off but not really hurting anything," Brown said. "Some people are annoyed by it, but we're watching. That's what's important."

While Brown acknowledged Hokit's title opportunity, he expressed reservations about the decision's merit. He argued that Alexander Volkanovski deserves the shot more than Hokit based on resume alone, but conceded that entertainment value—not just wins and losses—drives modern MMA promotion decisions. "Fair game. It's entertainment, not sport," Brown concluded.