Josh Hokit was certainly one of PFL’s promising heavyweight prospects, however he in the end made the choice to depart the group after competing simply as soon as for the reason that promotion merged with Bellator.
“They sort of made it straightforward,” Hokit instructed MMA Combating. “They renegotiated everybody’s contracts, and so I used to be preventing for a bit bit extra money they usually despatched a brand new contract, and it was for much less cash. I used to be like, ‘I don’t suppose it’s value it,’ and I solely fought twice in two years. I needed to be far more energetic than that.
“I assumed it was the very best resolution simply to go elsewhere, take the pay minimize. However so long as I’m energetic, that’s all I care about proper now.”
Hokit (4-0) actually has been extra energetic, as he competed as many occasions in 2025 for LFA as he did throughout his complete PFL and Bellator run. The 4-0 heavyweight standout competes for the third time in 2025 this Friday when he faces Eric Lunsford at LFA 208.
The undefeated fighter says the contract renegotiation with PFL was a major distinction from what he was making, and even when it wasn’t he could have made the selection to depart anyhow.
“It was like a $20,000 distinction,” Hokit defined. “I used to be like, it’s not even value it proper now. At this level in my profession, I would like extra expertise, and I don’t know in the event that they needed me to, however they have been going to throw me within the fireplace instantly and it was going to be for much less cash. I used to be like, I’ll simply go elsewhere, get extra expertise and climb the ranks that method. I really feel like that was a greater resolution for me, higher state of affairs.
“I feel they have been gonna attempt to throw me within the match. I used to be like, I solely have like 2 fights and I don’t know if that’s the very best resolution, in order that in the end, I used to be like, go elsewhere and get extra expertise, work my method up. …
“To start with [of the merger], it appeared like they needed to maintain me nonetheless, and so I consider it was simply the contract ended inside a yr and a half and so I solely fought twice. I feel the contract was already ending as a result of the yr and a half was already over and they also made it look like they needed to maintain me after which I additionally, I used to be speaking to them, I used to be going to see if I may go into different organizations to only get extra expertise after which nonetheless battle for PFL. They usually appeared OK with that, and I used to be simply turned off by the entire state of affairs with PFL and the Bellator factor.
“I used to be like, why am I even preventing within the first place? I’m not preventing to be PFL champion. I’m preventing to be UFC champion. In order that’s The aim of mine is I need to be within the UFC.”
Hokit, a former faculty soccer and wrestling standout, was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Francisco 49ers in 2020. After an on-and-off two-year stint with the 49ers, he signed with the Arizona Cardinals for simply 5 days earlier than being waived, thus ending his soccer profession.
The 27-year-old transitioned to MMA and has discovered nice and early success. In reality, Hokit says that his matchup this Friday has an excellent likelihood of being his last battle exterior of the TKO/UFC organizational bubble.
“I already really signed a contract with Dana White Contender Collection for August,” Hokie mentioned. “I’m simply doing this battle for extra expertise as a result of I simply understand it’s simply how the UFC is formed these days. These guys are able to battle within the UFC. They acquired expertise from everywhere in the world and all that different stuff. So that they’re able to be contenders, and in order that’s how I’m it.
“Heavyweight’s a bit bit totally different the place there’s simply not as a lot — how would I say it — the heavyweight division just isn’t very deep. It’s like they don’t acquired as a lot talent because the 145-pound division.
“So I really feel like with my talent set, I may grasp with these guys and in the end beat all of them, for my part, with my talent set proper now. And I really feel like after this battle, that’s going to be 5 wins, so I don’t really feel like I would like any extra — I imply, extra fights the higher, however I don’t really feel like I have to take any extra fights than I’ve to. I really feel like I’m prepared for Contender Collection and no matter occurs after that.”
