Heavyweight contender calls for UFC to cut Tom Aspinall, slams Alex Pereira

Unbeaten heavyweight Josh Hokit has launched a sharp attack on UFC champion Tom Aspinall and interim titleholder Ciryl Gane's recent victim Alex Pereira, calling for Aspinall's release from the promotion and asserting that Gane should be recognized as the undisputed heavyweight champion.

Aspinall has been sidelined since suffering an eye injury during his first title defense against Gane in October, an encounter that ended in a no contest. Gane subsequently captured the interim heavyweight belt with a technical knockout victory over Pereira at UFC Freedom 250. Hokit, riding an undefeated 10-0 record with four UFC wins, has seized the moment to stake his claim in the division's hierarchy.

On social media, Hokit mocked Pereira's public grievances following his loss and declared his belief that Gane forced Aspinall to quit, rendering the original champion unworthy of his status. The polarizing heavyweight also proposed a straightforward roadmap for the division: a September showdown between himself and Gane, with a November or December title shot for Pereira should he prevail. Hokit recently added to his résumé by stopping Derrick Lewis on the same card as Gane's victory over Pereira, cementing his rapid rise through the heavyweight ranks.

Hokit's comments reflect a broader impatience in the division with the uncertainty surrounding Aspinall's status and recovery timeline. His willingness to challenge Gane while offering Pereira a future title opportunity positions him as an active, fight-ready contender—a contrast he appears to be drawing between himself and the sidelined champion. Whether the UFC acts on his recommendation to release Aspinall remains to be seen, but Hokit's vocal stance and undefeated record have made him impossible to ignore in heavyweight title conversations.