Hokit Says Gane Fights Like a Coward Ahead of UFC 334

Josh Hokit has found a new target before UFC 334. He says heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane fights like a coward, and he plans to force a different kind of night on him.

Unbeaten and coming off Lewis

Hokit goes into the main event at Madison Square Garden with a 10-0 record. His last fight ended in a TKO win over Derrick Lewis. Now he gets his first chance at UFC gold.

The climb was quick. He is still the underdog against Gane, but he talks like a man with no doubts.

A promise of constant pressure

Hokit says it does not matter where the fight goes. He is set on finishing Gane, and he expects to do it.

"No one wants to stand in front of someone that's gonna be relentless," he said. He says he is not there to play it safe and will win at all costs, whatever that looks like. He will find a way, he added.

The complaint about distance

Hokit's main gripe is about how Gane uses space. He told UFC.com that the champion is so big and athletic that he never has to stand in the pocket and trade with everyone, the way other fighters must. Instead, Hokit says, Gane dances around.

That is why he calls the movement cowardly and says Gane plays it safe. The word he reached for in the interview was "coward-based."

The report adds that Hokit knows the fight may not be entertaining. He does not expect Gane to want to do much, only to stick and move for 25 minutes. In striking terms, that means landing a shot and leaving before the other man can answer.

Size does not scare him

Hokit admits Gane is a tough opponent, big and fast. Then he waves the gap away. "If weight and size always played a factor in a fight, the elephant would be the king of the jungle," he said.

He gives Gane credit for speed, but he sees the champion as a perfect canvas for his own artistry. His plan is to mix it up with wrestling, strikes and whatever it takes. He wants the fight on his terms, with Gane pulled into it.

Source: BJPenn.com