Who Is Josh Hokit? The Ex-NFL Athlete Turned Undefeated UFC Heavyweight

Q: Who is Josh Hokit?

Josh Hokit is an undefeated UFC heavyweight with a 9-0 professional record and one of the most unusual athletic backgrounds on the roster. Born in California in 1997, he was a standout in two sports long before MMA, and he has carried that elite-athlete pedigree into a fast rise through the heavyweight division. He is equal parts serious prospect and lightning rod for attention.

Q: Did Josh Hokit play in the NFL?

Sort of. Hokit signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2020 after a college career as a fullback and tight end. He was waived at final roster cuts but re-signed to the practice squad, and he spent time on the 49ers practice squad across the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He never broke through to regular NFL game action, but he was good enough to stick around one of the best teams in the league.

Q: Was Josh Hokit a college wrestler?

A very good one. At Fresno State, Hokit was a second-team All-American wrestler who led his team in wins as a senior, all while also playing college football. Wrestling at that level is brutally demanding on its own, and doing it alongside Division I football speaks to the kind of athlete he is. That wrestling base is the foundation of his MMA game today.

Q: How did Hokit beat Curtis Blaydes?

In an all-out war. Hokit's signature win came against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 in April 2026, a genuinely memorable heavyweight brawl that he came out the right side of. Blaydes was a long-established, top-tier heavyweight, so beating him took Hokit from curiosity to legitimate prospect in a single night, and it is the win that earned him a spot on the White House card.

May 30, 2026 · Good Fights

Of all the names on the UFC Freedom 250 card, none has a stranger path to the White House lawn than Josh Hokit, a two-sport college star and former NFL hopeful who is now one of the most talked-about heavyweights in the sport. This is who he is and how he got here. You can rate Hokit vs Lewis, and every fight on the card, on Good Fights.

Who is Josh Hokit?

Josh Hokit is an undefeated UFC heavyweight with a 9-0 professional record and one of the most unusual athletic backgrounds on the roster. Born in California in 1997, he was a standout in two sports long before MMA, and he has carried that elite-athlete pedigree into a fast rise through the heavyweight division. He is equal parts serious prospect and lightning rod for attention.

Did Josh Hokit play in the NFL?

Sort of. Hokit signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2020 after a college career as a fullback and tight end. He was waived at final roster cuts but re-signed to the practice squad, and he spent time on the 49ers practice squad across the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He never broke through to regular NFL game action, but he was good enough to stick around one of the best teams in the league.

Was Josh Hokit a college wrestler?

A very good one. At Fresno State, Hokit was a second-team All-American wrestler who led his team in wins as a senior, all while also playing college football. Wrestling at that level is brutally demanding on its own, and doing it alongside Division I football speaks to the kind of athlete he is. That wrestling base is the foundation of his MMA game today.

How did Josh Hokit get to the UFC?

Through the proving ground. Hokit earned his UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series in 2025, finishing his opponent and impressing White enough to get the call. He arrived in the UFC undefeated and immediately positioned himself as one of the more intriguing young heavyweights in a division that is always hungry for fresh contenders.

How did Hokit beat Curtis Blaydes?

In an all-out war. Hokit's signature win came against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 in April 2026, a genuinely memorable heavyweight brawl that he came out the right side of. Blaydes was a long-established, top-tier heavyweight, so beating him took Hokit from curiosity to legitimate prospect in a single night, and it is the win that earned him a spot on the White House card.

Why is Josh Hokit so polarizing?

Because he made himself impossible to ignore. Hokit has leaned hard into a loud, theatrical, almost WWE-style persona, hijacking press conferences with over-the-top trash talk aimed at half the roster. The fan base is genuinely split: some love that he is the only one visibly trying to sell the fights, others think the act is fake. Sean Strickland has publicly torn into the gimmick, while Joe Rogan has defended Hokit as a smart guy playing a character on purpose. Hokit's own line is that modern MMA has gone soft on personality and he is just bringing the wild-man era back. Love it or hate it, it is at least something.

How did Hokit end up fighting Derrick Lewis?

Through one of the more unusual bookings in recent memory. Derrick Lewis was not originally on the Freedom 250 card. He was added after Donald Trump personally asked Dana White why the all-time UFC knockout king was not part of the event, and one phone call later the fight with Hokit was made. It is a fitting way for a heavyweight as beloved as Lewis to land on a stage this big.

Can Josh Hokit beat Derrick Lewis?

The odds favor him, but the danger is real. Hokit is the younger, fresher, more athletic fighter, and the betting lines reflect that. The problem is that Derrick Lewis owns one of the most prolific knockout records in UFC history and is one clean punch away from ending any fight, even when he is behind. If Hokit leans on his wrestling, his motor, and his athleticism, he should win. If he gets careless and decides to brawl, he is standing across from exactly the man who can make him regret it. It is the classic prospect-versus-puncher heavyweight setup, and it could end in a blink.