Josh Hokit told he can beat Ciryl Gane by using ‘Cain Velasquez style’ at UFC 334

Chris Weidman sees elements of an all-time great in Josh Hokit’s game.

‘The Incredible Hok’ has enjoyed a quick rise to stardom in 2026, and his success inside the UFC Octagon has catapulted him into a first heavyweight title shot.

After wins over Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis, Hokit will challenge Ciryl Gane at UFC 334, as the Frenchman makes his first defense after being elevated from interim to undisputed champion status.

‘Bon Gamin’ was awarded the belt without a victory inside the Octagon, and Weidman is not expecting his reign to be a lengthy one.

Tom Aspinall vacated the heavyweight title due to complications with the eye injuries he suffered from Gane’s pokes at UFC 321 last October.

That bout marked the French star’s third failed bid to claim the undisputed crown inside the cage, having previously had his grappling deficiencies exposed by both Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones.

Speaking on the UFC’s Deep Waters podcast, Weidman suggested that the same weakness is what will help Hokit finish this calendar year on top.

“If you watch Hokit, some of his fights before the Curtis Blaydes fight, I’ve seen him ragdoll people like Cain Velasquez did back in the day,” Weidman said.

“Just non-stop punches from the back, just riding them, rag-dolling them around. He has the potential of rag-dolling Ciryl Gane, for sure, Cain Velasquez style.

“We’ve seen Gane get taken down and get beat up by Francis Ngannou, Jon Jones with the guillotine,” he continued. “I think I’d go Hokit only because I think the style of Gane, the being light on your feet and stuff, I think that takes a lot of cardio.

“It’s very taxing on the body to be that light on your feet, and I think a guy like Hokit, who’s non-stop pressuring, eventually will start winning exchanges and getting the takedowns.”

Hokit showed that he was more than just a grappler at UFC 327 this past April, where he emerged victorious from an all-time classic against Blaydes.

But against one of the best technical strikers that the heavyweight division has ever seen in Gane, the polarizing American may need to rely on his wrestling to walk out of Madison Square Garden with the title on November 14.