The UFC 327 fight week in Miami has been anything but ordinary, and much of that chaos can be traced back to one man: Josh Hokit. The undefeated heavyweight prospect, boasting an 8-0 record, has turned every microphone and camera his way, not so much for his fighting credentials, but for his outlandish persona and headline-grabbing antics. As he prepares to face the seasoned Curtis Blaydes on the main card this Saturday, Hokit’s approach has left fans and fighters alike split between amusement, bewilderment, and outright annoyance.
Hokit’s week began with a bang—literally, if you count the toy lightsaber he brandished at light heavyweight title challenger Jiri Prochazka in the hotel lobby. The bizarre confrontation, captured on video and shared widely on social media, saw Hokit threatening Prochazka with lines like, “I’ll cut you up with this lightsaber, homie, and then f—ing stitch your head on Alex Pereira’s body, homie.” Prochazka, the epitome of composure, simply responded, “Man, stay where you are,” refusing to escalate the situation. The two don’t even share a division, making Hokit's provocation all the more puzzling. Moments later, Hokit attempted to provoke Carlos Ulberg in the hallway, only to be met with indifference as Ulberg walked past without acknowledgment.
For those unfamiliar with Hokit's schtick, the Miami media quickly got a crash course. During media day, Hokit strutted into the room wearing a stars-and-stripes bandana and sunglasses, channeling a Hulk Hogan-esque wrestling persona. “You guys… down or do you want the Incredible Hulk, brother?” he bellowed, flexing for the cameras. But the theatrics didn’t stop there. Hokit launched into a gruesome, pro-wrestling-style monologue referencing the heavyweight rankings and the horror film ‘The Human Centipede.’ “I’m going to take out number four and saw off his head, put it on Alex Pereira’s body, then take number three and stitch it to the anus of number two,” he declared. He continued, “Then I’m going to take number two’s head and stick it on the anus of number one, creating some type of ‘human centipede’ where ‘The Incredible Hok’ will put it on a leash and walk it in his front yard.”
It was a performance that left the media room in stunned silence, with only scattered, awkward laughter breaking the tension. Hokit’s act didn’t end there. He abruptly switched to a stereotypical Mexican-American gangster character, referring to himself as “the down vato,” and delivered a string of ethnic jokes that fell flat. “What do you call a Mexican who doesn’t like protein powder? No weigh, Jose,” he quipped, met with near-total silence. When asked about his earlier confrontation with Prochazka, Hokit doubled down: “I’m just letting everybody know how f—ing down I am, homie. I’m the downest vato in the world, homie… I’m f—ing down, dog. I don’t care who you are, dog.” He even advocated for an open-weight division, adding, “Cutting weight’s for cowards, homie. Straight up, the down vato doesn’t fcking cut no weight, homie.”
Fans and fellow fighters have not been shy in their reactions. Social media lit up with criticism, labeling Hokit as “cringe” and “the perfect representation of the current state of the UFC.” Some fans even pleaded with Blaydes to “sleep this dude” and “carry out your mission.” The consensus? Hokit’s antics may draw attention, but they’re not winning him many admirers among the sport’s traditionalists.
Blaydes, ranked fifth among UFC heavyweights and a veteran with wins over several former contenders, has taken a different tack. Rather than engage with Hokit’s provocations, Blaydes has remained resolute and professional. “He just wants the clips,” Blaydes told reporters at media day. “He just wants people to be like, ‘Look, he’s talking sht to Jiri.’ Because Jiri is a professional. He’s not going to beat the s— out of you in the hotel lobby. Neither will I, because we’re going to do it this weekend.”
Blaydes went further, critiquing Hokit’s approach as derivative and lacking substance. “He’s doing the Colby Covington bit,” Blaydes said. “Even, I’ll give it to Colby. He’s actually good. He’s actually a really good wrestler. He got better with the hands. He’s actually good. I don’t agree with him acting like that either. But at least with him, he has something to stand on.” In Blaydes’ view, Hokit’s antics are simply a cover for a lack of proven fighting skills at the UFC’s top level. “Hokit, he knows he’s not going to get paid for his actual skills in the octagon. He’s like, ‘Oh, OK, I’m going to be a personality. I’m going to just be the guy who, when you interview him, I say random sh—.’”
Blaydes has made it clear he won’t be baited. “The UFC can just take away my microphone. I’m not going to respond. That’s what he wants. He wants the views. He wants to get that viral (moment), like (Conor) McGregor.” Blaydes even questioned the UFC’s matchmaking, suggesting they either “really like him or they really don’t like him,” but leaning toward the latter. “I know you’re not going to beat me unless you’re legit and I don’t think Hokit’s legit.”
Amid all the chaos, the actual stakes of Saturday’s fight have been somewhat overshadowed. Hokit, who trains out of Jackson-Wink MMA and earned his contract through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2025, has finished both his UFC opponents in the first round. Yet, Blaydes is by far the toughest test of his career—a perennial top-five contender with a wrestling-heavy style and a reputation for shutting down hype trains. The fight, which takes place at Miami’s Kaseya Center, is seen as a true sink-or-swim moment for Hokit. Will his “Incredible Hok” persona translate to a top-10 ranking, or will Blaydes’ experience and skill expose the limits of showmanship?
Meanwhile, the main event sees Prochazka take on Ulberg for the vacant light heavyweight title, but it’s Hokit’s antics that have dominated headlines. Whether this strategy pays off with a breakout performance or fizzles under the bright lights remains to be seen. One thing’s for sure: all eyes will be on the octagon when Hokit and Blaydes finally let their fists do the talking.
As the UFC 327 main card draws near, the question lingers—can Josh Hokit back up his bravado against a proven contender, or will Curtis Blaydes silence the “Incredible Hok” and put an end to the sideshow? The answer, fittingly, will only come when the cage door closes in Miami.