Jones Says Hokit Can Beat Gane in Scheduled Title Fight

Jon Jones said Josh Hokit has a strong chance of defeating Ciryl Gane in their scheduled heavyweight title fight, while acknowledging that a Gane victory would also benefit the reputation of Jones’s team. Hokit is set to challenge Gane for the title at UFC 334 on November 14 at Madison Square Garden. The matchup places the American contender against the French champion, and Jones, who has fought Gane, offered his assessment in an interview with Dave “The Schmo” Schmulenson. Jones praised Hokit’s current form and coaching, saying he believes Hokit could win. He also said Gane’s victories over other fighters reflect well on the team associated with Jones. Jones described himself as supportive of fighters generally and said he hoped both men would succeed, while leaving the outcome to the contest. The comments reflect Jones’s connection to both sides of the matchup. He has competed against Gane, and Hokit trains at JacksonWink MMA, where Jones trained for much of his career. Jones’s remarks were an opinion about the fight, not a prediction of a confirmed result. Separately, former UFC commentator Jimmy Smith has questioned whether Hokit would attract new fans if he became champion.