Unbeaten Hokit dismisses Lewis as step down, eyes Pereira showdown at UFC White House

Josh Hokit has publicly downplayed his June 14 heavyweight clash with Derrick Lewis, telling reporters he considers the matchup a step down in competition and that his real target is UFC interim heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

Hokit (9-0) is scheduled to face Lewis at UFC White House: Freedom 250, the same card where Pereira defends the interim heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane in the co-main event. Despite the high-stakes billing of the event itself, Hokit was blunt about what a win over Lewis would mean for his career.

“I think I’m going down in competition from my last fight,” Hokit said. “Me beating Derrick Lewis doesn’t bring no value to me, I don’t think. But me fighting at the White House does. I think that’s going to propel to a fight with Alex Pereira.”

Hokit’s confidence is not without foundation. The former NFL fullback has won all three of his UFC bouts since debuting last year and has built a notable profile through his outspoken personality and theatrical self-promotion. His most recent outing — a unanimous decision over Curtis Blaydes — was the first time in his professional career that the fight went to the judges’ scorecards.

Lewis (29-13) arrives at the bout in a different position. “The Black Beast” is coming off a stoppage loss to Waldo Cortes-Acosta that ended a two-fight knockout streak. Despite that setback, Lewis remains the all-time leader for KO/TKO victories in UFC history with 16 — a record that makes him a dangerous opponent regardless of where Hokit places him in the competitive pecking order.

Hokit acknowledged that the White House card carries its own prestige, and he sees performing on it as a platform rather than a destination. With Pereira and Gane set to clash on the same night, a commanding performance from Hokit could put him directly in the conversation for a heavyweight title shot — which appears to be precisely the calculation he is making.