Josh Hokit wants to bring personality back to MMA.
A former wrestler and collegiate football player, Hokit made his UFC debut in November, and in just a few months, “The Incredible Hok” has risen from unknown fighter to one of the breakout stars in MMA. In his three UFC fights he’s earned four bonuses, including winning Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night for his victory over Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 earlier this month.
But Hokit’s rise is not just due to his performances inside the cage, but his personality outside the cage. Hokit has grabbed headlines for adopting multiple pro-wrestling style personas for his interviews, harkening back to the heyday of Chael Sonnen, and when speaking with Sonnen on Smash Cast, Hokit lamented the lack of personality in MMA these days.
“The sad part is, all these fighters — that’s the thing with the day and age that we live in. Back then, you had wild men. And so you had all these personalities, everyone is going crazy, everyone is more interesting. Now, it’s like these real athletes. They’re really holding onto their image, like, ‘How can I be cool?’
“So, Carlos Ulberg, when I see him, it’s like he’s carrying the weight of looking cool and being this cool guy, where now, ‘The Down Vato,’ he just doesn’t care. That’s where I’m from.”
But Hokit says fighters aren’t the only ones to blame for the lack of personality in the UFC now. Hokit has, occasionally, caught the ire of UFC officials during his various bits, who attempt to keep him from saying anything too out-of-bounds on a UFC microphone, which Hokit thinks is part of the problem.
“These people take their jobs so serious,” Hokit said. “It’s like, no wonder the fighters act like this. It’s like, [puts on serious tone], ‘You need to go out there, and say the right answer, and respect your opponent, and be just a professional. And act like you’re not about to get in this cage.’
“Look, I’m in underwear, I’ve got no shirt on, and we’re about to fight to the death basically. Why? We’ve got to remember what the sport is. Everybody doesn’t want to accept, you’re fighting in a cage. You have to be pretty stupid.”
Whether the many faces of Hokit is getting him over with the public is still up for debate, it certainly does continue to open doors for him. Hokit got a shot to vault up the rankings against Blaydes at UFC 327, and immediately after his fight, he was booked in another big event, against Derrick Lewis at UFC White House. And Hokit says that’s because his schtick is working, at least with one man.
“When I was going to the ambulance after the fight, Mick [Maynard] comes up to me and says, ‘You are now Donald Trump’s new favorite fighter.’”
UFC White House takes place on June 14.
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Khamzat Chimaev fight camp.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Marwan Rahiki (8-0) vs. Ollie Schmid (4-2); UFC Perth, May 2.
Liz Carmouche (25-8) vs. Viviane Araujo (14-7); PFL San Diego, June 27.
Look, Hokit’s gimmicks aren’t always to my taste, but the man is getting opportunities because of them. And it’s not like Chael Sonnen always landed well. I give him credit for trying something, which is more than most fighters on the roster, and for legitimately thinking it all through, even if it’s cringe a lot of the time.
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