Heavyweight prospect Josh Hokit, once considered promising within the PFL, decided to depart the organization after competing just a single time following its merger with Bellator.
According to Hokit, the promotion`s actions “kind of made it easy” for him to leave. He explained that after contracts were renegotiated post-merger, his new offer was for less money than he was previously making. Given this decrease and the fact he had only fought twice in two years, far less often than he desired, he didn`t feel it was worthwhile to stay.
He concluded that the best course of action was to seek opportunities elsewhere, even if it meant accepting a pay cut, as his primary concern was staying active in his career at this stage.
Hokit, who holds a 4-0 professional record, has indeed been significantly more active since his departure. In 2025 alone, he has competed for LFA as many times as he did during his entire run with PFL and Bellator combined. His upcoming bout this Friday against Eric Lunsford at LFA 208 will mark his third fight of 2025.
The undefeated fighter revealed the contract difference offered by PFL was substantial, a figure around $20,000. He felt at his current career point, gaining experience was more crucial than the reduced pay. He also sensed the organization might rush him into the tournament format with limited professional fights, which wasn`t his preferred path for development.
Hokit stated he felt it was a better situation to go elsewhere, accumulate more experience, and work his way up the ranks gradually, rather than being potentially thrown “in the fire” too soon for less compensation.
He noted that although PFL seemed interested in keeping him initially after the merger, his contract was nearing its end after a year and a half with only two fights. While he explored the possibility of fighting in other organizations for experience while still under contract with PFL, the overall situation with the PFL and Bellator integration ultimately dissuaded him.
Hokit clarified his ultimate motivation: “Why am I even fighting in the first place? I’m not fighting to be PFL champion. I’m fighting to be UFC champion. So that’s The goal of mine is I want to be in the UFC.”
Before his MMA career, Hokit was a notable college football and wrestling athlete. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2020, had an intermittent two-year period with them, and briefly joined the Arizona Cardinals for five days before being waived, concluding his football journey.
The 27-year-old successfully transitioned to mixed martial arts, finding early success. He believes his upcoming LFA fight on Friday stands a strong chance of being his last competition outside of the UFC`s organizational umbrella.
Hokit revealed he has already signed a contract to appear on Dana White`s Contender Series in August. He is taking the LFA fight specifically to gain additional experience, acknowledging that fighters reaching the Contender Series are typically highly experienced and prepared for the UFC level.
He shared his perspective on the heavyweight division, feeling it lacks the depth or perhaps the overall skill level found in lighter weight classes like the featherweight division (145 pounds).
Despite this, Hokit expressed confidence in his current skillset, believing he can compete effectively and ultimately defeat opponents in the division. With a potential fifth professional win after his next fight, he feels adequately prepared for the Contender Series and whatever opportunities follow, although he acknowledges that more fights are always beneficial.
