The Arrival of “The Incredible Hok”
At UFC 324, the heavyweight division received a clear message.
Josh “The Incredible Hok” Hokit didn’t just defeat Denzel Freeman—he forced a decisive stoppage and moved his professional record to a flawless 8-0. It wasn’t simply another win. It was confirmation that one of the most fascinating athletic transitions in modern MMA is very real.
In a sport increasingly dominated by lifelong specialists, Hokit represents something different. He is a rare throwback to the true “super-athlete” archetype.
Before stepping into the Octagon, Hokit was already competing at an elite level. He didn’t merely participate in two Division I sports simultaneously—he thrived in them. Long before earning money with his fists, he signed an NFL contract with the San Francisco 49ers, proving his physical ceiling extended far beyond combat sports.
Now, as one of the most physically imposing prospects in the UFC heavyweight division, the conversation has shifted. The debate is no longer if he will contend for a title—it’s when.
To understand the calculated violence and elite athleticism he brings into the Octagon in 2026, you have to rewind to the wrestling mats of Clovis, California—where the foundation of “The Incredible Hok” was built.
The Clovis High Phenomenon
Born on November 12, 1997, Josh Hokit was raised in the crucible of California’s Central Valley—a region known for producing grit, hard work, and high-level wrestlers. Attending Clovis High School, a national powerhouse for wrestling, Hokit was surrounded by excellence, but he quickly separated himself from the pack.
The Gridiron and the Mat
Most high school athletes are forced to choose a lane. Coaches protect their stars, fearing injury in other sports. Hokit, however, thrived on the workload.
- On the Football Field: He was a force of nature. Playing as a linebacker and running back, he was named the Fresno Bee Athlete of the Year. In his senior year alone, he rushed for 820 yards and scored 8 touchdowns, while simultaneously recording 125 tackles on defense. He didn’t just play; he dictated the physical terms of every game.
- On the Wrestling Mat: This is where his base for MMA was forged. Competing in the fiercely competitive California state bracket, Hokit was a three-time state placer. In 2016, he capped off his high school career by winning the CIF State Championship at 182 pounds, cementing his status as one of the best grapplers in the country.
Despite his dominance, the path to college wasn’t straightforward. He originally committed to Drexel University for wrestling, but a twist of fate—and a desire to keep playing football—led him to stay home. He walked onto the roster at Fresno State, a decision that would resurrect a program and build a legacy.
The Fresno State Legend
It is difficult to overstate how rare Josh Hokit’s collegiate career was. In the modern NCAA, playing one sport is a full-time job. Playing two is nearly impossible. Excelling at both is unheard of.
The Resurrection of Bulldog Wrestling
When Hokit arrived at Fresno State, the wrestling program was in a rebuilding phase after a hiatus. The program needed a star, and they found one in the football team’s running back.
Hokit’s wrestling style was heavy, aggressive, and relentless—traits that would later define his MMA career. The pinnacle of his collegiate grappling came in 2019, during the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Pittsburgh. Competing in the 197-pound division—often considered the most athletic weight class—Hokit battled his way to a 5th-place finish.
This wasn’t just a personal victory; it was historic. By standing on the podium, Hokit became Fresno State’s first All-American wrestler in 16 years. He proved that you could split your focus and still compete with the best specialists in the nation. He even shared the mats with future MMA stars like Bo Nickal during this era, foreshadowing the path he would eventually take.
The Touchdown Maker
While he was training to be an All-American wrestler, Hokit was also bruising defenders on Saturday nights. Over four years (2016–2019) with the Fresno State football team, he was the team’s Swiss Army Knife.
- The Stats: He played in 51 games, racking up 17 career touchdowns and over 800 rushing yards.
- The Style: He wasn’t the fastest back, but he was arguably the toughest. He ran with a low center of gravity (thanks to wrestling) and punished anyone who tried to tackle him.
By the time he graduated, Hokit was a local deity in Fresno. But the professional world was calling, and it wasn’t the cage—yet.
(Josh Hokit NFL) The NFL Detour
In the spring of 2020, Josh Hokit chased the NFL dream. Despite going undrafted, his versatility and game tape caught the eye of Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers.
He signed as an Undrafted Free Agent (UDFA) and spent the 2020 season on the practice squad. While he never cracked the active 53-man roster for a regular-season game, the experience was invaluable. Training at the NFL level requires a discipline and physical maintenance routine that few other sports demand. Hokit spent a year absorbing the professionalism of an elite organization, sharing a locker room with stars like George Kittle and Fred Warner.
However, for a man used to physical confrontation, the “business” of the NFL—the roster cuts, the politics, the waiting—wasn’t enough. Hokit realized his body wasn’t made for blocking; it was made for fighting.
In 2021, he made the pivot. He traded his cleats for 4-ounce gloves and joined the prestigious Jackson Wink MMA Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The football player was gone; “The Incredible Hok” was born.
The Heavyweight Laboratory
When Josh Hokit walked away from the NFL in 2021, he didn’t just join a local gym to “try out” fighting; he went straight to the source of greatness. He relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to train at the world-renowned Jackson Wink MMA.
For a heavyweight prospect, this was the equivalent of going to Harvard. He wasn’t just learning the basics; he was sharing the mats with the greatest light heavyweight of all time, Jon Jones, and heavyweight legends like Andrei Arlovski.
The Evolution of a Style
The transition from NCAA wrestler/football player to mixed martial artist is often clunky. Athletes tend to rely too heavily on their takedowns, panicking when they get punched. However, Hokit’s time at Jackson Wink focused heavily on “seamless integration.”
- Striking for Grapplers: Coaches Brandon Gibson and Greg Jackson didn’t try to turn him into a kickboxer overnight. Instead, they taught him how to use heavy overhands and calf kicks to force opponents to react—opening up the hips for his blast double-leg takedown.
- The “Ground and Pound” Philosophy: This became Hokit’s trademark. Unlike pure jiu-jitsu practitioners who hunt for submissions off their back, Hokit adopted a “mauler” mentality. Once he secured top position, he used his football balance to stay heavy while raining down elbows, a technique reminiscent of a young Cain Velasquez.
After two years of grueling preparation in the high altitude of New Mexico, the “Incredible Hok” was ready to be unleashed.
The Bellator Launchpad
In a move that spoke volumes about his potential, Hokit didn’t debut on a small regional show in front of 200 people. He made his professional debut on one of the biggest cards in Bellator history.
Bellator 300: The Debut (October 7, 2023)
Opponent: Spencer Smith
Result: Win via Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) – Round 3
The pressure at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego was immense. Bellator 300 was a milestone event, and Hokit was the featured heavyweight prospect.
The Fight Breakdown:
The fight was a showcase of raw potential and dominant grappling. While Hokit looked slightly tentative on the feet in the opening minutes (a common trait for debutants), the moment he touched Smith, the difference in athleticism was stark. He tossed Smith to the canvas with ease.
What impressed analysts most wasn’t the takedown, but the patience. In Round 3, with Smith exhausted from carrying Hokit’s weight, Hokit transitioned smoothly to an arm-triangle choke. It was a statement victory. He didn’t just out-wrestle his opponent; he finished him.
Bellator Champions Series: The Sophomore Test (September 2024)
Opponent: Sean Foster
Result: Win via Submission (Armbar) – Round 2
Nearly a year later, Hokit returned to the cage in San Diego. The layoff had clearly been used to sharpen his tools. Against Sean Foster, Hokit looked faster and leaner.
He displayed a new wrinkle in his game: submission awareness from top position. After battering Foster with ground strikes in the first round, Hokit snatched an armbar in the second round during a scramble. It was a rare finish for a heavyweight wrestler, proving that his submission grappling was catching up to his wrestling pedigree.
The “LFA” Takeover (2025)
By early 2025, Hokit was a free agent. While Bellator wanted to keep him, the UFC’s radar was pinging. However, the UFC matchmakers wanted to see one thing before signing him: activity. They needed to know he could stay healthy and fight frequently.
So, Hokit signed a short-term deal with the Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA), the premier feeder league for the UFC. His 2025 run in LFA is now the stuff of regional legend.
LFA 198: The 30-Second Demolition (February 2025)
Opponent: Marcus “The Mountain” Leal
Result: Win via KO (Slam and Punches) – Round 1, 0:28
This was the viral moment Hokit needed. Facing a 265-pound brawler, Hokit ducked under a wild hook, secured a body lock, and literally lifted Leal off his feet, slamming him into the center of the canvas. The impact was so severe it stunned Leal, and two follow-up punches ended the night. The video of the “Football Tackle Slam” garnered millions of views on social media.
LFA 205: The Title Eliminator (July 2025)
Opponent: Kenta Wakamatsu
Result: Win via TKO (Ground and Pound) – Round 1, 3:12
In his final regional test, Hokit faced an experienced Japanese veteran in Wakamatsu. It was expected to be a grueling test of cardio. Instead, it was a massacre.
Hokit walked through Wakamatsu’s punches, secured a single-leg takedown, and unleashed a barrage of elbows that forced the referee to step in. He was now 7-0. He had finished every single opponent. He had barely absorbed a significant strike in his professional career.
The phone rang the next morning. It was Dana White.
Josh Hokit: The Complete Career Retrospective
The “Contender Series” Coronation
By the summer of 2025, the buzz surrounding Josh Hokit was deafening. He had cleared out the regional scene, leaving a trail of unconscious heavyweights in the LFA. But the UFC brass wanted to see him pass one final stress test before handing him a contract: Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS).
DWCS Week 2: Hokit vs. Guilherme Uriel (August 19, 2025)
Result: Win via TKO (Elbows) – Round 2, 1:06
Hokit was matched against Guilherme Uriel, a hulking Brazilian striker with a 6-0 record. The narrative was simple: Could the wrestler survive the striker’s power?
The Fight Breakdown:
In the first round, Hokit did something unexpected—he stood in the pocket. He used his improved boxing to touch Uriel up before blasting a double-leg takedown with 90 seconds left. But it was the second round where “The Incredible Hok” truly arrived.
After an early scramble, Hokit secured the crucifix position—a move he perfected during his Fresno State days. Trapping Uriel’s arms, he unleashed a sequence of hellacious elbows that cut the Brazilian open. Dana White was on his feet before the referee even stopped the fight.
The Contract:
In the post-fight interview, Hokit didn’t ask for a contract; he demanded a ranked opponent. Dana White, impressed by the violence and the charisma, didn’t hesitate. “He’s a freak athlete,” White told the media. “He’s 265 pounds and moves like a middleweight. You’re looking at a future problem for the division.”
(Josh Hokit UFC) The UFC Debut (November 2025)
Most heavyweights are given a “warm-up” fight for their debut. Hokit was given a test.
UFC Fight Night 264: Hokit vs. Max Gimenis
Date: November 8, 2025
Result: Win via KO (Punches) – Round 1, 0:56
Max Gimenis was supposed to be the durable veteran who would drag Hokit into deep waters. Instead, he drowned in less than a minute.
The Fight Analysis:
The fight started, and Hokit feinted a takedown. Gimenis bit on the feint, dropping his hands to sprawl. That was the trap. Hokit came over the top with a looping right hand—a technique he calls “The Clovis Hammer.”
The shot connected flush behind the ear. Gimenis stiffened and fell face-first. It was a 56-second walk-off knockout.
The Implication:
With this win, Hokit earned a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus and put the division on notice. He wasn’t just a wrestler anymore; he had one-shot KO power.
Josh Hokit The “Buzzer Beater” at UFC 324
This brings us to the present day—January 24, 2026. UFC 324 at the T-Mobile Arena.
UFC 324: Hokit vs. Denzel Freeman
Result: Win via TKO (Ground and Pound) – Round 1, 4:59
Facing Denzel Freeman, a fellow athletic heavyweight, Hokit faced his toughest stylistic matchup yet. Freeman was fast, strong, and had good takedown defense.
The Fight Breakdown:
The first round was a high-paced wrestling war. Hokit relentlessly chained takedown attempts, but Freeman showed incredible balance, bouncing back to his feet three times. However, the pace Hokit set was suicidal for a normal heavyweight.
By the 4:00 mark, Freeman’s mouth was wide open, gasping for air. Hokit, utilizing that legendary cardio from his dual-sport days, looked fresh. With 30 seconds left, Hokit dragged Freeman down near the fence and began to unload.
The Finish:
Freeman covered up, trying to survive the round. But Hokit didn’t stop. He postured up and landed heavy hammerfists. The referee, seeing Freeman stop defending, dove in to stop the fight.
The official time? 4:59 of Round 1.
It was a literal last-second finish, showcasing Hokit’s killer instinct. He refused to let the fight go to the judges.
Josh Hokit The New Heavyweight Reality
As of January 26, 2026, Josh Hokit stands at 8-0 with a 100% finish rate.
He is a statistical anomaly:
- NFL Athleticism: Explosiveness that most heavyweights cannot match.
- D-1 Wrestling: The ability to dictate where the fight takes place.
- Jackson-Wink Striking: A developing, dangerous stand-up game.
In his post-fight interview at UFC 324, he called out Waldo Cortes-Acosta, signaling he is ready to crack the Top 15. The heavyweight division has long been ruled by older veterans, but the youth movement has arrived.
The “Incredible Hok” is no longer a prospect. He is a contender. And if his trajectory continues, the gold belt isn’t a dream—it’s a schedule.
