The UFC heavyweight division has a new contender, and he has been causing quite the splash in 2026.
Josh Hokit earned his contract on Dana White’s Contender Series last year and has since had a perfect start to life inside the UFC Octagon.
‘The Incredible Hok’ has appeared in plenty of headlines owing to his character and controversial remarks on the microphone, but attention turned to his fighting when Hokit beat Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 in a brutal war.
The American is backing up his talk so far, and his coach expects that trend to continue.
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Coach Mike Winkeljohn compares Josh Hokit’s athleticism with Jon Jones’
Hokit, an All-American wrestler and former football player, trains at the renowned Jackson Wink MMA Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
There, he receives guidance from legendary coach Mike Winkeljohn, who is regarded as one of the key figures behind GOAT contender Jon Jones’ career inside the Octagon.
Winkeljohn sees some similarities between the former heavyweight king and the division’s newest title contender. He even recently named Jones’ arrival as the last time an athlete like Hokit walked into his gym.
“Josh’s key to victory is he will condition, he will shoot and re-shoot, and re-shoot, and re-shoot, and gas everybody out,” Winkeljohn said during an appearance on Submission Radio.
“He’s very, very fast. You’d be surprised how fast he is. He’s so explosive with his takedowns; he just goes. I think that’s what makes him stand out, his athleticism and the conditioning.
“Last time I saw an athlete that good come to the gym…I’d say Jon, Jon Jones,” he continued. “But it was a different kind of athleticism.
“Jon had the mindset, and the length, and the understanding of some things, and he was able to pull things off a certain way. Josh is totally different. His mindset is more of a grinder, with the wrestling base, which I think rules MMA.”
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Before getting past Blaydes in their Miami barnburner, Hokit recorded first-round knockouts of Max Gimenis in his debut last November and Denzel Freeman to open his 2026 account this past January.
He already has his next assignment on the calendar, with Hokit vs Derrick Lewis at the White House being announced during the UFC 327 broadcast.