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Clovis, California's Josh Hokit Drops Ciryl Gane Diss Track 'MSG Freestyle' Ahead of UFC 334
Rapping as J-Word, the undefeated heavyweight fired his first shots on wax 12 days before his title fight at Madison Square Garden.
Clovis, California's Josh Hokit is taking the trash talk to the booth. Twelve days before he challenges Ciryl Gane for the UFC heavyweight title, the undefeated contender released "MSG Freestyle," a music video he's billing as his first song, under the rap name J-Word.
The roughly two-and-a-half-minute track landed on Hokit's YouTube channel over the weekend, and the main target is no mystery. Gane gets called out from the opening ad-libs, but "The Incredible Hok" spreads the smoke around, with shots at Jon Jones, Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria, plus a crude line about former First Lady Michelle Obama that's already drawing attention.
The Fight Behind the Freestyle
The song's title is a nod to the venue. Hokit (10-0) meets Gane (14-2, 1 NC) in the main event of UFC 334 on Saturday, Nov. 14, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, streaming on Paramount+. It's Gane's first defense as undisputed heavyweight champion and Hokit's first career main event. Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes for the bantamweight title is the co-main.
Both men got here by way of the UFC's White House card in June. Gane stopped Alex Pereira to claim the interim belt, then was elevated to undisputed champion after Tom Aspinall vacated. Hokit, a late addition to that card, stopped Derrick Lewis by second-round TKO.
From Fresno State to the Booth
Before MMA, Hokit was a two-sport star at Fresno State, an All-American wrestler who also ran the ball for the Bulldogs, and he later spent time with the San Francisco 49ers. Now he's adding rapper to the résumé, and fans seem into it: the comment section under the video is packed with requests for Hokit to use the track as his walkout song at MSG.
Even Gane's camp admits the challenger can sell a fight. Head coach Fernand Lopez has praised Hokit's pressure and output while acknowledging he knows exactly how to build hype.
Whether J-Word has a second single in him may depend on what happens Nov. 14. Either way, he has the whole heavyweight division listening.
Source: Yahoo Sports — "Video: Josh Hokit drops new rap song targeting Ciryl Gane, Jon Jones, and more ahead of UFC 334 title fight"