Introduction
Friday, May 9th, American heavyweight prospect Josh Hokit will be in action for LFA, where he will be looking continue his winning ways against Matt Adams. He will be looking for another win, as Hokit looks to inch closer to a UFC contract. He represents Jackson-Winklejohn MMA, a top camp in MMA. Let’s take a closer look at this prospect as this week’s “Prospect Spotlight.”
Strengths
Wrestling: Hokit wrestled collegiately at Fresno St, where he excelled in the sport after being a nationally ranked high school grappler. His wrestling and top game are the most prominent parts of Hokit’s game in the cage, as all of his wins come by finish on the mat. He has ferocious ground-and-pound and a surprisingly strong submission game, which makes him an all-around threat on the ground.
Athleticism: In addition to Hokit’s wrestling background, he was also a stud football player, walking on to Fresno State and playing multiple positions before going undrafted and signing with the 49ers and Cardinals. Though his pro football career didn’t work out, it shows how good of an athlete Hokit is, excelling at hard, physical sports. He holds an athleticism edge over most people in the heavyweight division right now.
Needs Improvement
Step Up in Competition: In addition to being less experienced as an MMA fighter, as he only debuted in October of 2023 and having fought four times, but he has yet to step up in competition. That’s likely fine, as he’s still getting experience in the cage and he’s just 27 years old. The heavyweight division is among the oldest in the UFC and MMA in general. He has a few years to keep collecting cage time and wins, but he will need keep moving up the talent ladder as he does so.
Outlook
UFC Midcarder: Hokit has a bright future, especially considering the heavyweight division is always in need of talent. It’s among the least populated divisions in mixed martial arts. Given his athletic background, his wrestling credentials and the fact he’s under the guidance of Jackson-Winklejohn MMA, Hokit is likely going to be UFC bound at some point. My guess is he fights Matt Adams in this LFA bout, and if he wins, scores a nod on the Contender Series this summer.
MMA Intel 