Hokit credits UFC 327 performance for silencing Dana White's doubts ahead of Lewis clash

Josh Hokit’s gruelling heavyweight battle with Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 in April did more than earn him a post-fight bonus — it turned one of his most prominent critics. UFC CEO Dana White, who had publicly taken issue with Hokit’s theatrical persona, declared after the fight that he would not say another negative word about the 28-year-old.

“I’m one of them [that doesn’t like his character],” White said at the UFC 327 post-fight press conference. “He walked the talk tonight. When people come out and say stupid shit and have sort of a schtick, it’s not my thing. But nothing but respect for both of those men tonight. That fight was unbelievable. You won’t hear a word out of me from here on out about him.”

Hokit, who is now 3-0 inside the UFC with three post-fight bonuses, reflected on White’s change of heart ahead of his next outing against Derrick Lewis at UFC White House — a bout taking place on the South Lawn in what is already a historic setting.

“I’m grateful for the UFC for even giving me that opportunity,” Hokit told MMA Fighting. “When I shake their hand, I’m like, thank you for this opportunity, I’m going to make the most of it. But it’s like, would you rather me talk a normal big game — ‘Oh, we’re going to go to war’ — normal answers, normal person, and then I could give you a shit show of a fight? So it’s like, what’s important here?”

Hokit has leaned into multiple characters throughout his fight builds since arriving in the UFC following an undefeated run through Bellator and LFA. His willingness to put himself out there is something he believes too few fighters are willing to do — and he is not shy about saying so.

“I think MMA fighters are getting too caught up in being the macho man or the stoicism, and the polite guy,” Hokit said. “I just think they’re lazy and they don’t want to put themselves out there and put things on the line, put pressure on themselves. So they kind of go into a shell.”

Standing across from Hokit at UFC White House will be Derrick Lewis, the UFC’s all-time knockout leader, who is looking to rebound from a lopsided stoppage loss to Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC 324 in January. For Hokit, the stakes are clear — another statement performance against a heavyweight name would cement his rapid rise through the division.