Josh Hokit, known for his heel persona, has recently expressed his strong disapproval of the reigning UFC heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall.
Aspinall has been inactive due to double eye surgery and is not yet cleared for contact training or sparring. Despite this, he hopes to compete later this year. In his absence, Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira are set to fight for the interim heavyweight title on June 14.
On the same night, Josh Hokit is scheduled to face Derrick Lewis at the White House.
During fight week for UFC Freedom 250, Hokit shared his thoughts with Chael Sonnen, echoing the sentiment of many that the interim title fight between Gane and Pereira should instead be for the undisputed heavyweight championship.
“To get the division moving again, Pereira and Gane should be fighting for the heavyweight championship.”
The undefeated American fighter, aged 28, also took aim at Tom Aspinall, accusing him of “holding up the heavyweight division with his theatrics.” Hokit sarcastically remarked:
“You have [Tom Aspinall] claiming he’s blind now. Saying he can’t practice, he can’t even drive. Then suddenly he’s saying he’s going to return. Just pick one or the other at this point. I think the division is being held up by his theatrics or whatever he’s doing.”
Tom Aspinall Situation Escalates with Eddie Hearn’s Involvement
Earlier this week, Tom Aspinall’s new manager, Eddie Hearn, publicly urged Dana White to release the heavyweight champion, arguing that Aspinall’s UFC contract and fight purse are significantly below his standing in the sport.
Hearn further claimed that he would not permit Aspinall to compete against the soon-to-be-crowned interim heavyweight champion under his current UFC terms. Speaking to Bloody Elbow, Hearn stated:
“I’m not going to let Tom Aspinall fight for the kind of money that’s in his contract. To be involved in a fight against Pereira or Gane, for literally 1/50th of the revenue of that show. F*** that, I won’t let him do it. It’s time that those UFC fighters stop being mugs and start to understand that these people are taking advantage of them. They deserve better. I will tell you the number in time. UFC fans will be sick to their stomach about the money that Tom Aspinall is supposed to get for that kind of fight. Itโs not fair.”
