Who’s UFC’s Josh Hokit? All About 49ers’ Undrafted Player-Turned-MMA Fighter

We’ve heard plenty of stories about people switching careers, but it’s rare when an elite athlete switches sports and actually thrives. Josh Hokit belongs in that rarest category. He didn’t just walk away from football; he charged headfirst into a far more unforgiving arena. Few athletes trade cleats for four-ounce gloves.

Hokit’s journey reads like a high-risk bet that keeps paying off. Once an undrafted San Francisco 49ers fullback, he rebuilt himself as a wrecking force in MMA. Wrestling instincts, football power, and raw aggression fused into a new identity. The result is a heavyweight prospect who didn’t just take the long road—he smashed through it.

What did Josh Hokit do in the NFL? 

Hokit stands out because he rewrote his athletic path in real time. He went from NCAA All-American wrestler and college football standout to an undefeated MMA fighter in the blink of an eye. Few athletes move across disciplines like that and still dominate.

At Fresno State, Hokit lived two athletic lives at once. He appeared in over 50 football games, logged more than 1,200 rushing yards, and scored 17 touchdowns. He even uncorked a 65-yard touchdown pass, just to underline his versatility.

On the mat, his resume carried real weight. Josh Hokit earned All-American honors and battled through the NCAA Championships against the nation’s best wrestlers. That grind sharpened his balance, control, and fight instincts long before MMA entered the picture.

However, Hokit’s NFL chapter didn’t deliver longevity, but it forged his edge. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent (UDFA) in 2020 and spent multiple seasons moving between the roster and the practice squad. The league never offered permanence, but it sharpened his physicality and professional discipline. A brief stint with the Arizona Cardinals in 2022 quietly marked the end of that pursuit.

How did Josh Hokit get into the UFC? 

Once football stalled, Hokit pivoted with intent. He entered MMA in 2023 and debuted at Bellator 300, submitting Spencer Smith via arm-triangle choke in the third round. He returned to the promotion in 2024 and finished Sean Rose with a first-round armbar. Those wins confirmed that his grappling translated cleanly under bright lights.

Momentum followed him onto the regional scene, where he rattled off more stoppages before landing on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2025. There, Hokit stopped Guilherme Uriel by TKO and secured a UFC contract. His Octagon debut at UFC Vegas 111 lasted just 56 seconds, ending with Max Gimenis flattened on the canvas.

Moments later, the American heavyweight grabbed the mic, cut a WWE-style promo, and called out heavyweight Valter Walker, injecting noise into the division. Then at UFC 324 in January this year, the heavyweight prospect faced off against Denzel Freeman and managed to end the bout with just one second to go in round 1. Then came the most important bout of his career against heavyweight veteran Curtis Blaydes in April.

In the UFC 327 main card bout, the two fought a tough back-and-forth battle that went the full three rounds, with Hokit winning the bout by unanimous decision. Many consider the bout to be a fight of the year contender. The bout impressed Joe Rogan so much that he asked Dana White if he could find a place for Hokit on the UFC Freedom 250 card. With Derrick Lewis agreeing to the bout as well, their upcoming bout was finalized on the sidelines of UFC 327.

Now unbeaten at 9–0, with the majority of his wins coming inside the distance, Hokit has another test lined up. He’s scheduled to face Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14.

Where does Josh Hokit train? All about his fighting style

Hokit sharpens his game at Jackson-Wink MMA Academy in New Mexico, a gym built on pressure, discipline, and elite competition. The wrestling remains his backbone, but his fights don’t stay one-dimensional. He throws with intent, closes distance fast, and finishes wherever the opening appears. That blend mirrors his athletic past—power from football, control from wrestling, and urgency from MMA.

Physically, he breaks the usual heavyweight mold. At 6’1” and roughly 236 pounds with a 73.5-inch reach, Hokit gives up size on paper. In practice, it rarely matters. His instincts compensate. He reads chaos well, attacks early, and treats every exchange like a chance to end the fight.

Attention around Hokit, however, doesn’t stop at the cage door. Some of his promos and interviews have sparked backlash for divisive remarks touching on politics and identity. Fans and observers remain split, with critics questioning his tone and supporters leaning into his raw, unfiltered presence.

That tension is part of the package. Hokit doesn’t just fight; he performs, provokes, and polarizes. In a division that thrives on personalities as much as knockouts, that mix ensures he never fades into the background.