Chael Sonnen believes Josh Hoekstra is much closer to a UFC heavyweight title shot than most fans realize. In this breakdown, Chael explains why Hoekstra's path to championship gold may be just one fight away—or possibly even immediate. The biggest factor isn't Hoekstra himself. It's the uncertainty surrounding heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. If Aspinall returns to defend against interim champion Ciryl Gane, Chael expects Hoekstra to stay active against another top contender while waiting for his opportunity. However, if Aspinall remains unavailable and the UFC decides not to book an immediate rematch involving Alex Pereira, Chael believes Gane could be elevated to undisputed champion. In that scenario, Hoekstra could find himself fighting for the heavyweight title much sooner than anyone expected. One thing Chael is confident about is Hoekstra's timeline. Whether his next fight is for the championship or one final eliminator, Chael doesn't see any realistic path where Hoekstra h