UFC Heavyweight contender Josh Hokit expressed that he will take a primal approach into UFC 334 this weekend, as he looks to pip Ciryl Gane to the promotion’s Heavyweight title belt at Madison Square Garden on Saturday (Sunday morning SA time).
The main card is set to start at 4am (CAT, GMT+2).
Following numerous attempts at claiming the UFC Heavyweight title against stars such as Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones, Gane (14-2-0) eventually claimed the interim belt with a knockout win over Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 in June.
Gane was then promoted to the undisputed title in September this year after former champion Tom Aspinall vacated the belt due to medical complications regarding an eye injury.
Known for being one of the most agile and fleet footed heavyweights in the UFC, Gane also comes into the fight with bags of experience after going toe-to-toe with high profile names such as Derrick Lewis, Tai Tuivasa, Serghei, Aspinall, Ngannou and Jones.
Hokit, on the other hand, is an unbeaten contender in the UFC with his most recent outing being a knockout win over Derrick Lewis at the UFC Freedom 250 event earlier this year.
The brash talking 28-year-old recorded four consecutive wins in the UFC following his knockout victory over Guilherme Uriel at Dana White’s Contender Series 78 showpiece in August last year.
In typical Hokit fashion, the American expressed that he holds no regard to the current champion and is preparing for an all-out ‘war’ this weekend.
"I believe all things are fair when it comes to war. He signed the contract, we're at war, and anything goes. No line. It is what it is,” Hokit said.
"If we were in a different day and age, that's how it'd be.
"They're my people now? I still have the primal sense of that mentality. And if he kills me, it's the same thing."
The co-main event will see Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes do battle for the Women’s Bantamweight title, while their bout was originally scheduled for UFC324 in January.
Known as one of the greatest female fighters of her generation, Nunes will once again look to extend her legendary legacy after claiming titles in two weight divisions between 2016 and 2023.
UFC334 MAIN CARD
Ciryl Gane vs Josh Hokit (Main event – Heavyweight Championship)
Kayla Harrison vs Amanda Nunes (Women Bantamweight Championship)
Caio Borralho vs Yousri Belgaroui (Middleweight)
Uros Medic vs Kevin Holland (Welterweight)
Bilal Hasan vs Luis Gurule (Flyweight)