Josh Hokit

Hokit dominated from the opening bell, scoring a takedown and battering Lewis with ground-and-pound in Round 1, even threatening an armbar before the horn. In Round 2 he landed another takedown and sharp jabs as a visibly exhausted Lewis faded, eventually dropping him and finishing with punches at 4:09 for the upset.

Key moments

• Round 1: Hokit secured a takedown and controlled Lewis with ground-and-pound, nearly finishing with a late armbar.
• Round 2: a second takedown and sharp jabs as a tiring Lewis threw wild, missing punches.
• Hokit dropped the exhausted Lewis and the bout was stopped after follow-up shots at 4:09.
• The win kept Hokit undefeated (10-0) — an upset over the veteran Lewis.

In a Fight-of-the-Year contender, Hokit out-dueled former heavyweight title challenger Curtis Blaydes over three rounds to win by unanimous decision (29-28 across all three cards). The pair combined for 351 significant strikes landed, a UFC three-round heavyweight record, and both men earned Fight of the Night; Hokit also took a Performance bonus.

Key moments

• Won 29-28 on all three scorecards
• Combined 351 significant strikes set a UFC three-round heavyweight record
• Earned Fight of the Night plus a $100,000 bonus
• Survived and out-paced a former UFC title challenger, his toughest test to date

Hokit's relentless first-round pace overwhelmed Denzel Freeman, who could not answer the bell-to-bell pressure and was stopped via TKO (retirement) at 4:59 of the opening round. The bizarre, late-first-round stoppage came as Freeman wilted under continuous volume.

Key moments

• Stoppage at 4:59 of round one, essentially the buzzer
• Freeman retired on his stool, worn down by Hokit's pace
• Extended Hokit's undefeated start to 8-0
• Showcased the conditioning advantage that defines his style

On his official UFC debut, Hokit needed less than a minute to blast out promotional newcomer Max Gimenis, scoring a TKO via punches at 0:56 of round one. He capped the night with a WWE/Chael Sonnen-style promo and took home a Performance of the Night bonus.

Key moments

• First-round TKO in 56 seconds on his UFC debut
• Earned a Performance of the Night bonus
• Cut a viral pro-wrestling-inspired post-fight promo
• Immediate statement after earning his contract on the Contender Series

Hokit dominated Guilherme Uriel on the wrestling, reportedly scoring five takedowns in the first round before putting Uriel on his back early in the second and finishing by ground-and-pound for a TKO at 1:06 of round two. The win earned him a UFC contract from Dana White.

Key moments

• Reportedly five takedowns in the opening round
• Second-round ground-and-pound finish
• Earned a UFC contract on Contender Series Season 9
• Wrestling-heavy gameplan broke a durable opponent

Hokit took Eric Lunsford down immediately, secured a crucifix position and rained down ground-and-pound for a first-round TKO at 2:00. The win moved him to 5-0 and was his final fight before the Contender Series.

Key moments

• Immediate takedown into a crucifix position
• First-round TKO by ground-and-pound at 2:00
• Improved to 5-0 ahead of his Contender Series call-up
• Typical wrestle-and-finish pattern of his regional run

Hokit dispatched Ezekiel Latu in 42 seconds at LFA 203 in Dallas, shooting for a takedown and sinking in a rear-naked choke almost immediately. The lightning-fast submission was the second straight first-round finish in his LFA run, moving him to 4-0 on the way to his Contender Series call-up.

Key moments

• Rear-naked choke finish at just 0:42 of round one.
• Third consecutive first-round finish in his LFA campaign.
• Took place in Dallas, Texas at LFA 203: Satybaldiev vs. Soares.
• Kept him on a fast-track trajectory toward a Contender Series slot.

Hokit fought in the co-main event of LFA 199 at Tachi Palace Casino Resort in Lemoore, California, stopping John Lopez by ground-and-pound TKO at 2:53 of the first round. He took Lopez down, worked to the back and unleashed punches until the stoppage, extending his undefeated record.

Key moments

• Co-main event at LFA 199 in Lemoore, California.
• Took Lopez to the ground, secured back position, and finished with punches at 2:53.
• Part of a string of first-round LFA stoppages that preceded his Contender Series call.
• Lopez came in with a heavyweight size advantage but was taken down and finished.

Hokit secured his second professional win on the Bellator Champions Series card in San Diego, locking up a belly-down armbar on Sean Rose with just two seconds left in the first round. The slick late submission at 4:58 showcased his submission arsenal beyond the wrestling base.

Key moments

• Belly-down armbar sunk in with only two seconds remaining in round one.
• Fight took place at Pechanga Arena in San Diego as part of Bellator Champions Series 4.
• Moved Hokit to 2-0 as a professional with back-to-back Bellator wins.
• Sherdog published a highlight specifically of the armbar finish.

Hokit made his professional debut on the Bellator 300 preliminary card at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, taking Spencer Smith to three rounds before securing an arm-triangle choke at 3:48 of the final round. Despite a significant weight disadvantage — Hokit entered at 234.5 lbs against Smith's 247.8 lbs — he controlled the grappling through the fight and earned the finish in the championship round.

Key moments

• Professional MMA debut on the Bellator 300 prelims, refereed by Mike Beltran.
• Went the distance into round three before finishing — his only career fight past round one.
• Arm-triangle choke finish at 3:48 of R3; total fight time 13:48.
• Sherdog published a highlight video titled 'Josh Hokit Taps Spencer Smith' from the card.