UFC heavyweight Josh Hokit goes from busting rhymes to heads and lands White House combat
THE ULTIMATE INSIDER: ‘The Incredible Hok’ backs up his word with actions in barnstorming win at UFC 327 as he wins over presidents Dana White and Donald Trump
Josh Hokit has proved he is more than just a colourful character in the UFC(Image: Zuffa LLC)
Josh Hokit’s gone ‘from a one-note joke to heavyweights’ great hope; from an absolute chump to flavour of the month; from the outhouse to the White House all in one night’.
While my rhyming intro might not get the American’s approval, let alone that of the British poet Pam Ayres’, Hokit stole the show at UFC 327 to prove he’s more than the schticky character that has bemused, confused and, to be fair, enthused fans so far. And his post-fight poetry will live long in the memory.
‘The Incredible Hok’ has come across incredibly hokey in his three fights in the UFC by doing an impression of an 80s pro wrestler – mostly closely WWF stars Macho Man and The Genius – crossed with MMA’s Chael Sonnen, though without the nod and wink to the fans ‘The American Gangster’ provided.
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For many, Hokit has stood out for all the wrong reasons outside the Octagon, but proved he could be among the heavyweight elite in it after his fight-of-the-year contender against Curtis Blaydes in Miami.
Hokit won their three-round war on points, while an Octagon-side Donald Trump took some time off from his to turn match-maker.
UFC chief Dana White, who has not been a fan of Hokit’s ‘gimmick’, was even won over, saying: “When people come out and say stupid s*** and have sort of a schtick, it’s not my thing. But I have nothing but respect for both those men because that fight was unbelievable.
“You won’t hear a word out of me from here on in about him [Hokit]. He walked the talk.
“It’s one thing to have a schtick or act. It’s another thing to go in and fight the No.5-ranked guy in the world, who is a bad dude, and do what he did to him.”
On the US president’s intervention on the June 14 White House card, White added: “The president said to me, ‘Why is Derrick Lewis not on the White House card?’ I said, ‘I will be back in five minutes’ and called Derrick… I said, ‘You want to fight on the card?’ and he said, ‘Absolutely’.
“(Commentator) Joe Rogan then goes, ‘Is there a slot open on the White House card for Hokit?’.
So I grabbed (match-maker) Mick Maynard and I said, ‘Go back there and see if he’s in’. Hokit was getting into an ambulance and said, ‘Yes’.”
Decked out in his trademark stars and stripes bandanna and giant sunglasses, Hokit, who is now 8-0 in MMA, having just failed to make the cut in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers, fittingly had the final word after being discharged from hospital, posting: “Just got back from the hospital… No broken bones ‘cuz I’m made of steel… Y’all are welcome.”
Josh Hokit’s post-fight poetry promo : “To the Miami mamacitas, my bathwater tastes like a sweet margarita. So what is there not to like? When I pick up the mic, a puppy comes back to life. And when it’s time to get litty, you know I’ll get jiggy. My electric slide could power this whole damn city.
“I’m the ouch that runs his mouth and wears dirty shoes at your house just to say ‘f*** your couch’.
“I toot my own horn and beat my own drum, but if you think you can beat me in a fist fight, boy is you dumb.”
UP NEXT: UFC Fight Night, Sunday, 1am. Canada’s Mike Malott steps up against No.11-ranked welterweight Gilbert Burns in Winnipeg.
MONEY MATCH: Wolverhampton’s Jai Herbert (6/4) will fancy his chances against fellow lightweight Mandel Nallo. Odds and full UFC betting available at boylesports.com
FINAL SAY: “Jiri (Prochazka) made the mistake of coming forward as I was on the cage and he walked into that left hook.” New light-heavyweight champ Carlos Ulberg, despite an in-fight knee injury, on his title-winning KO.
