Dana White Admits He "Might've Thrown Some Tough Guys" at Josh Hokit — and Hokit Passed Every Test

Dana White says Josh Hokit was overlooked by everyone, himself included — and earned his shot at Ciryl Gane by beating every tough opponent put in front of him.

Dana White has never hidden his distaste for Josh Hokit's act. What he admitted this week, on The Jim Rome Show, is that the distaste may have shaped the matchmaking — and Hokit beat it anyway.

"Hokit [vs. Gane] was the fight to make," White said. "Hokit has been overlooked the whole time — not only by the fans and media, but me. I didn't like some of the things he said, so I might've thrown some tough guys at him, and he passed every test."

It was a hedged admission. White did not say he set out to bury a contender — he said he "might've" thrown tough opponents at Hokit because he disliked some of the things he had said.

"So, here he is," White continued. "Like him or hate him, he's fought his way to the top, and there's no denying that this guy deserves this title shot."

Hokit, known as "The Incredible Hok," is 10-0 overall and 4-0 in the UFC, and he has gone 3-0 in 2026 on his way to the title shot. He went from Contender Series prospect to UFC title challenger in little more than one year.

The run began with a knockout of Denzel Freeman at UFC 324. It was the post-fight interview that night, not the finish, that set the tone for everything after it. Hokit delivered a lengthy professional-wrestling-inspired speech, laced with offensive language and a derogatory remark about WNBA star Brittney Griner. White did not watch it live, but he heard about it afterward.

Next came Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 in April 2026. Blaydes was ranked No. 5 at heavyweight, and the fight was a bloody three-round war. Hokit won it by unanimous decision, a Fight of the Year contender, and collected both "Fight of the Night" and "Performance of the Night" bonuses.

White briefly softened after that win. He admitted he still disliked Hokit's "schtick," but declared that Hokit had "walked the talk" and earned his respect. The truce did not last.

He stopped former title challenger Derrick Lewis by second-round TKO at UFC Freedom 250 in June 2026, and the post-fight interview again overshadowed the result. Hokit used the microphone to call former First Lady Michelle Obama a man. White responded that he was against fighters saying "nasty and false things" about people's families and that he "hated that kind of nonsense," later calling the remark a "disgusting" thing to say.

At the announcement of the title shot, White put it in the starkest terms: "I'm not saying that I don't like Josh Hokit," White said. "I literally don't f—king like anything Josh Hokit says."

He made the same point at the UFC 331 post-fight press conference, when asked about Hokit being one win from the title. "I say it all the time, I don't have to like you for you to thrive here and you to do well and be successful," White said, adding that he did not like "anything Josh Hokit says" — and "That's not going to change unless he changes, which I don't see happening."

Hokit, for his part, has treated White's criticism as part of the act. On The Ariel Helwani Show in September, he said: "Dana is just, you know, he has to say that. Deep down, I'm Dana's favorite fighter... He can't wait for my fights."

The record now speaks for itself. Hokit is ranked No. 4 at heavyweight, and on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, he challenges undisputed heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Gane is 14-2 overall and 11-2 in the UFC, and the event streams on Paramount+ in the US.

Like him or hate him, Hokit fought his way to the top, and there is no denying that this guy deserves this title shot — and belongs there.