“The Incredible Hok” is about to find out where he really stands.
Undefeated (and outspoken) Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight prospect, Josh Hokit (8-0), will take a massive step up in competition when he faces No. 4-ranked contender and former title challenger, Curtis Blaydes, at UFC 327 on Sat., April 11, 2026, inside Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.
Advertisement
The promotion announced the matchup earlier today.
Hokit has bulldozed his way through his first two Octagon appearances, scoring back-to-back first-round stoppages. Most recently, he ran through Denzel Freeman at UFC 324, securing the very first stoppage via flipping the bird (just kidding, Freeman was exhausted and could not continue). The performance kept his undefeated record intact, but it’s his microphone work that’s stirred the most attention.
After a playful Chael Sonnen-inspired promo in his debut, Hokit pushed things a bit too far in his second post-fight interview, drawing public criticism from UFC CEO, Dana White.
Advertisement
Now, the 27-year-old powerhouse gets a legitimate litmus test. A win over Blaydes would likely catapult Hokit straight into the Heavyweight Top 5 and instantly validate the hype.
Blaydes (19-5), meanwhile, isn’t in the business of being anyone’s stepping stone. “Razor” is coming off a split-decision win over then-unranked Rizvan Kuniev, meaning this will be his second consecutive unranked matchup. He has alternated wins and losses over his last four fights, which included a failed title bid against Tom Aspinall, who knocked him out in one minute (watch highlights).
Still, Blaydes remains one of the division’s most dangerous wrestlers, scoring a notable stoppage win over Jailton Almeida the last time he competed in Miami.
Advertisement
Here is what UFC 327 looks like so far:
-
Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira
-
Dominick Reyes vs. Johnny Walker
-
Loopy Godinez vs. Tatiana Suarez
-
Curtis Blaydes vs. Josh Hokit
-
Paulo Costa vs. Azamat Murzakanov
-
Randy Brown vs. Kevin Holland
-
Nate Landwehr vs. Cub Swanson
-
Kyle Daukaus vs. Vicente Luque
