UFC heavyweight Josh Hokit has entered the official top-five rankings following a career-best win over Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327.
Hokit beat Blaydes by unanimous decision at UFC 327 in an all-out war that many are calling one of the best heavyweight fights of all time. United States President Donald Trump was cageside for the fight, one that saw each fighter earn $100,000 each as a bonus for winning “Fight of the Night.” Both fighters were transported in an ambulance together after the fight, leading to a humorous encounter between Hokit and Blaydes at a local Miami hospital.
Following the win, the UFC updated the official ranking on its website. The media voted Hokit as the No. 5-ranked heavyweight in the UFC, while Blaydes dropped down to the No. 7 spot in the weight class. Before the latest rankings update, Hokit was unranked outside of the Top 15.
Josh Hokit Could Become the Newest UFC Superstar
Hokit improved to 3-0 in the UFC following the win over Blaydes, and 9-0 overall in mixed martial arts. Throughout fight week, Hokit got the MMA world talking due to his bizarre antics, acting as several different characters during pre-fight interviews and when he stepped on the scale at the weigh-ins. Though UFC president Dana White later admitted that he wasn’t a fan of Hokit’s schtick, he couldn’t help but marvel at the incredible fight that he and Blaydes put forth.
Following UFC 327, White confirmed that Hokit already has his next fight lined up, as he is set to fight fan favorite Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250, which takes place on the South Lawn at the White House on June 14. White said that Trump personally asked for Lewis to be on the card, and following the amazing fight with Blaydes, White asked Hokit if he would be willing to fight Lewis in two months from now. Despite getting the phone call while in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, Hokit said yes, and his bout with Lewis is now the seventh fight added to UFC Freedom 250.
Hokit Is A Former NFL Player
Before transitioning to MMA, Hokit previously played football for the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL, being part of the team’s practice squad in 2020-2021. He was also briefly a member of the Arizona Cardinals practice squad in 2022. In college, Hokit was a fullback and tight end for Fresno State. Additionally, Hokit was an All-American wrestler, exhibiting how well-rounded an athlete he is.
In 2023, Hokit debuted as a professional MMA fighter for Bellator MMA, winning two fights in that promotion before signing with LFA, the UFC’s feeder league. He won three fights in LFA to get a placement on Dana White’s Contender Series last summer. After picking up an impressive first-round finish and drawing the interest of White, Hokit signed a contract with the UFC, and so far, so good, as he’s won all three of his UFC fights, while becoming a household name in the process.
With his next fight already booked for the epic UFC White House card, look for Hokit to emerge as the UFC’s newest superstar in short order.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Josh Hokit Officially Enters Top-5 UFC Heavyweight Rankings appeared first on Heavy Sports.