Josh Hokit is an undefeated American UFC heavyweight who has gone from playing professional American football to challenging for a world championship in just a few years. The 28-year-old faces Ciryl Gane at UFC 334 on 14 November, despite having made his UFC debut less than a year ago. With the fight approaching, the latest markets can be found through BetVictor’s UFC betting and odds page.
Hokit has already beaten established heavyweights Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis, taking his professional MMA record to 10-0. But his background is arguably just as interesting as the results. Before stepping into the Octagon, he was an accomplished college wrestler, played running back at Fresno State and spent time with the San Francisco 49ers.
Who Is Josh Hokit?
Josh Hokit, whose full name is Joshua Seth Hokit, was born on 12 November 1997 in Bakersfield, California. He competes in the UFC heavyweight division and is known by the nickname The Incredible Hok.
His rise through MMA has been remarkably quick. Having spent much of his earlier sporting career balancing wrestling and American football, Hokit turned his attention to professional fighting after his NFL opportunities came to an end.
He now trains at Jackson Wink MMA Academy in New Mexico and has built a reputation for aggressive performances, finishing ability and an unusually outspoken personality.
Hokit regularly talks himself up, makes bold claims about other fighters and seems perfectly comfortable playing the villain when necessary. That personality, combined with an undefeated record, has made him one of the UFC’s more recognisable new heavyweights.
Josh Hokit Age, Height, Weight and Reach
According to the UFC’s official fighter profile, Hokit measures 6ft 1in and has a reach of 73.5 inches.
His key statistics are:
| Statistic | Josh Hokit |
|---|---|
| Age | 28 |
| Date of birth | 12 November 1997 |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6ft 1in (185 cm) |
| Listed weight | 234.5 lb (106.4 kg) |
| Reach | 73.5 inches (187 cm) |
| Weight class | Heavyweight |
| Fighting stance | Orthodox |
| MMA record | 10-0 |
| UFC ranking | No.4 heavyweight |
Hokit is relatively small compared with some of the division’s biggest fighters. His next opponent, Ciryl Gane, stands 6ft 5in, giving the champion a four-inch height advantage.
Hokit’s listed weight is not necessarily what he will weigh on fight night. Heavyweights are permitted to weigh up to 265 lb for championship fights, and his official UFC 334 weigh-in has yet to take place.
What Is Josh Hokit’s UFC Record?
Josh Hokit currently holds an undefeated professional MMA record of 10 wins and no losses, including four victories inside the UFC.
Six of his professional wins have come by knockout or technical knockout, three by submission and one by decision.
His recent UFC results are particularly impressive:
| Opponent | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Derrick Lewis | Win, TKO Round 2 | June 2026 |
| Curtis Blaydes | Win, unanimous decision | April 2026 |
| Denzel Freeman | Win, TKO Round 1 | January 2026 |
| Max Gimenis | Win, TKO Round 1 | November 2025 |
Hokit earned his UFC contract through Dana White’s Contender Series in August 2025, stopping Guilherme Uriel in the second round.
He wasted little time making an impression once he reached the promotion.
His debut against Max Gimenis lasted only 56 seconds, while Denzel Freeman was stopped with one second remaining in the opening round at UFC 324.
The level of opposition then increased considerably. Curtis Blaydes had spent years competing against the leading heavyweights, yet Hokit managed to beat him by unanimous decision at UFC 327. Two months later, he stopped Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250, finishing one of the UFC’s most experienced knockout artists at 4:09 of round two.
Those victories explain why Hokit has moved into the heavyweight title picture so quickly.
Josh Hokit’s Wrestling Background
Long before becoming a UFC fighter, Hokit was an accomplished wrestler.
He attended Clovis High School in California, where he won the 182 lb state wrestling championship in 2016. He continued wrestling at Fresno State while also playing American football, eventually establishing himself as one of the university’s standout athletes.
His biggest achievement came at the 2019 NCAA Wrestling Championships.
Competing at 197 lb, Hokit finished fifth and became Fresno State’s first wrestling All-American since 2003. He also earned second-team All-American recognition in 2020.
Perhaps the most interesting detail is that Josh Hokit wrestled against Bo Nickal at the 2019 NCAA Championships.
Nickal, who was representing Penn State, defeated Hokit by pin in the second round of the tournament. Hokit recovered from that defeat to put together an impressive run through the consolation bracket and secure his All-American finish.
It is an unusual connection now that both men compete in the UFC.
Did Josh Hokit Play in the NFL?
Yes. Before his MMA career, Josh Hokit spent time in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers, and he also had an opportunity with the Arizona Cardinals.
At Fresno State, Hokit played running back alongside his wrestling commitments. He finished his college football career with approximately 1,700 total yards and 17 touchdowns.
He subsequently spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons on the 49ers’ practice squad, although he never became an established regular-season player.
After his professional football opportunities ended in 2022, Hokit decided to pursue MMA full-time.
That sporting background helps explain his physicality. He had already spent years competing at a high level, balancing demanding training schedules and dealing with opponents who were often considerably bigger than him.
The transition to fighting was still a major adjustment, but he arrived with an athletic foundation that many MMA newcomers simply do not have.
What Is Josh Hokit’s Fighting Style?
Hokit’s wrestling credentials might suggest a heavyweight who spends most of his fights looking for takedowns.
In reality, he has shown a clear willingness to stand and exchange punches.
Six of his ten professional victories have come by knockout or TKO, and his willingness to push forward has become one of the most recognisable parts of his game.
His wrestling remains important, particularly when opponents try to control him in the clinch or take him down. However, he has been happy to rely on aggressive striking rather than simply turning every contest into a grappling match. There are advantages and risks to that approach.
Against Derrick Lewis, Hokit showed that he could trade with a dangerous heavyweight and still find the finish. Against Curtis Blaydes, he proved he could remain competitive across three full rounds against a far more experienced opponent.
Ciryl Gane presents a different challenge altogether.
Josh Hokit Next Fight: UFC 334 Against Ciryl Gane
Josh Hokit’s next fight is against UFC heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane on Saturday 14 November 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The fight headlines UFC 334, with Gane making his first defence of the undisputed heavyweight championship.
Gane enters with considerably more experience against elite opposition and holds an obvious advantage in height and reach. Hokit, meanwhile, has never lost a professional MMA fight and has risen through the heavyweight rankings at remarkable speed.
The matchup will tell us whether his rapid progress has genuinely prepared him for championship-level opposition.
Hokit has already beaten Blaydes and Lewis, but Gane’s movement and technical striking create a very different problem.
The Frenchman is comfortable working at distance, changing angles and forcing opponents to chase him. Hokit will need to find ways of closing that distance without leaving himself exposed.
Our full Ciryl Gane vs Josh Hokit preview covers the matchup, latest fight information and prediction.
Why Is Josh Hokit Getting a UFC Title Shot?
The speed of Hokit’s rise has surprised plenty of fans, particularly given how recently he joined the promotion.
He only made his UFC debut in November 2025 and will be competing for the heavyweight championship almost exactly one year later.
However, the opportunity has not come entirely out of nowhere.
His victories over Blaydes and Lewis gave him two established names on his record, while the heavyweight division has experienced significant movement around its championship.
Former champion Tom Aspinall vacated the title while dealing with complications from an eye injury, allowing Gane to become undisputed champion after previously winning the interim belt against Alex Pereira.
Hokit now gets his chance to challenge Gane at Madison Square Garden, with Kayla Harrison vs Amanda Nunes also featuring on the same card.
Our UFC rankings 2026 guide follows where Hokit stands among the heavyweight contenders.
Can Josh Hokit Become UFC Heavyweight Champion?
Hokit has already exceeded expectations by reaching a UFC title fight with a 10-0 record and fewer than five appearances inside the promotion.
The question now is whether he can handle somebody as technically accomplished as Ciryl Gane.
His wrestling background gives him an interesting alternative if the striking exchanges become difficult, although consistently taking Gane down will be far from straightforward. On the feet, Hokit will need to manage a significant reach disadvantage while avoiding the kind of mistakes that experienced champions punish.
There is also the question of how he responds to a five-round fight. Hokit has never been beyond three rounds professionally, so the championship rounds would be unfamiliar territory if the contest lasts that long.
That is what makes UFC 334 such an intriguing test. Hokit has the undefeated record, the wrestling credentials and the confidence. What he does not yet have is experience at the very highest level, and Gane will be a considerable step up.
For the latest fight previews, fighter profiles and results, visit the BetVictor UFC and MMA News section.
