Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier is high on the matchmakers potentially giving controversial heavyweight Josh Hokit a shot at the belt.

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall stole the headlines on Monday as he announced that he’s vacating the heavyweight title due to ongoing eye issues. Aspinall, who hasn’t fought since a no contest against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321, was expected to return by year’s end before suffering multiple setbacks in his recovery.

Now, Gane will likely be promoted to undisputed heavyweight champion, with a title defense likely in the works for later this year. One potential name in the mix to fight Gane is Josh Hokit, who has repeatedly called out Gane in recent hours.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and Sergei Pavlovich also make intriguing cases for a shot at Gane and the undisputed title. But UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier believes Hokit, despite his lower ranking, deserves the next title shot.

Daniel Cormier: Josh Hokit’s marketability makes him a no-brainer for Ciryl Gane

In a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Cormier explained why Hokit deserves a title shot after Tom Aspinall departed from the division.

“Ciryl Gane should defend the heavyweight championship against Josh Hokit, that’s the fight,” Cormier said of Hokit.

“I know that Josh Hokit annoys some, he came at me, and he can be a bit…much. But I believe that if you’re moving on from Tom Aspinall right now, I believe Josh Hokit should be part of the next heavyweight title fight. His antics, fighting ability, his willingness to stand and fight the way that he fights, those reasons are why Josh Hokit should be fighting for the UFC heavyweight championship next. He will compete with him, because he isn’t afraid, and he’ll sell…

“Even in that selling, he’ll p— people off, but he’ll bring eyes to the event,” Cormier continued on Hokit. “Josh Hokit has attacked Alex Pereira at a White House press conference, beaten Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis since getting into the UFC. Undefeated, brash, cocky…Josh Hokit is the type of heavyweight contender that even if you show up to hate him, you’ll still show up.”

Who should fight Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title after Tom Aspinall’s vacation? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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