MMA icon Jorge Masvidal explains why Josh Hokit could become a UFC heavyweight champion

Josh Hokit has received considerable laudation from MMA legend and former UFC mainstay, Jorge Masvidal.

Masvidal, who's the UFC's inaugural BMF champion, retired from mixed martial arts in 2023. "Gamebred" subsequently transitioned to professional boxing, taking on fellow ex-UFC star Nate Diaz in 2024, wherein he ended up being outpointed. 

That said, Masvidal has stayed connected with the sport of MMA and often chimed in with his analysis of key happenings therein. Well, he's now addressed one of the most talked-about rising stars, UFC heavyweight Josh Hokit. 

UFC Freedom 250 star Josh Hokit has his sights set on heavyweight gold

Currently, the undefeated Josh Hokit is booked to take on one-time UFC heavyweight championship challenger, Derrick Lewis. They'll clash against each other at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House on June 14.

For his part, Hokit has maintained that he aims to beat Lewis and then fight for the heavyweight title, ideally against Alex Pereira. Additionally, former two-division UFC champ Pereira is set to make his heavyweight divisional debut against ex-interim UFC heavyweight titleholder Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250.

Their fight's winner is expected to face reigning heavyweight kingpin Tom Aspinall when the Englishman returns from his hiatus, which was caused by eye injuries. 

MMA legend Jorge Masvidal views Josh Hokit as a future UFC heavyweight champion

In an episode of the Death Row MMA podcast on Full Send MMA, hosted by Jorge Masvidal, the latter spoke with fellow UFC veteran Eddie Alvarez. The two mixed martial arts legends addressed various topics, including the meteoric rise of Josh Hokit. 

Masvidal notably lauded "The Incredible Hok" for his most recent fight, a back-and-forth war against perennial heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes. On that note, "Gamebred" suggested that beating a top-tier heavyweight like Blaydes is no mean feat. 

Alluding to Hokit's past success in sports such as amateur wrestling and football, Masvidal praised his cardio and athleticism: 

"So we know he could wrestle. He All-American'd at a tough weight and then f**king played football at a high level. So we're dealing with a high-level athlete that actually is a fighter. He's going to be dangerous." 

Moreover, predicting that Hokit could become a UFC heavyweight champion, Masvidal stated, "I can see this guy becoming champion, brother. Believe it or not. I think he has that, at heavyweight. Not right now, today, tomorrow -- but he's got a gas tank on him." 

Nevertheless, both he and Eddie Alvarez underscored that Hokit would be better off if he utilized his wrestling in his MMA fights and significantly improved his defensive striking. 

Alvarez warned, "But remember the shots that he took from Curtis, and how vulnerable he makes himself, makes me scared for him in the heavyweight division." 

 

Watch Jorge Masvidal and Eddie Alvarez discuss Josh Hokit's possible ascent to heavyweight champion status below (*comments at the 47:02-minute mark of the video):