Imagine giving “The Incredible Hok” a championship mic every few months.
An undefeated heavyweight contender Josh Hockey officially received his first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) title UFC 331 aired last night (Saturday, September 19, 2026) and pitted against the newly promoted Heavyweight Champion Cyril Gane at the main event of the year UFC 334scheduled for November 14, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Becoming champion of “The Incredible Hockey” would be an incredible athletic feat, especially given how quickly he rose to title contention. It would also ensure that the UFC CEO Dana White will have to nervously spend every post-battle interview with a nearby fire extinguisher for the foreseeable future.
During the UFC 331 post-fight press conference (look here), White was asked if he was worried about the possibility of Hokit defeating Gane to become the face of the UFC heavyweight division.
“I have a lot of thoughts on it,” White said. “Yes, lots and lots. I’m sure those are the same thoughts you all have. I doubt we’re that different. Yes.”
Hokit’s performances in the Octagon have been flawless. However, his work on the mic has ranged from painfully forced professional wrestling material to some truly ugly personal attacks.
After a 56-second knockout in his UFC debut, Hokit delivered an awkwardly rhyming promo in which he called himself a “boy’s toy,” a “lady’s delight” and a “truth-speaking pastor’s pastor.” Things didn’t improve after his second UFC win at UFC 324, as White admitted that “did not love” Hokit’s final post-fight routine.
White retreated briefly after Hokit’s defeat Curtis Blaydes in the year total war at UFC 327admitting that the rising candidate had “spoken”.
Then came the UFC White House.
After him knockout victory through Derrick Lewisused Hokit in his interview Joe Rogan to falsely claim the former First Lady Michelle Obama was a man. White later called the remark “crude”inappropriate,” and “f-king moron,” but Hokit refused to apologizepromising fans would never hear him “backtrack” on his words.
Despite his apparent disdain for Hokit’s routine, White reiterated that the UFC will not punish the undefeated contender for his comments or prevent him from succeeding.
“I don’t control what people say and whatever else, and if you win,” White said. “I say this all the time: I don’t have to like you to thrive and do well here. A lot of people I don’t like have done very well here.
“I’m not saying I don’t like Josh Hokit; I literally don’t like anything Josh Hokit says,” White continued. “And it’s not going to change unless he changes, and I don’t see that happening.”
Unfortunately, White has done nothing but win Hockey.
The former NFL prospect is 10-0 as a pro and has won four straight in the UFC, including stoppages of Lewis and Denzel Freeman, and a wild decision win over Blaydes. If he can successfully draw Gane into another ugly, physical fight at UFC 334, White may soon have to hand the promotion’s biggest microphone into the hands of a fighter he desperately doesn’t want.
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