Josh Hokit, a heavyweight prospect previously with PFL, decided to depart the organization after competing just once since the promotion`s merger with Bellator.
Hokit explained his reasoning, stating, “They kind of made it easy.” He elaborated that after the company renegotiated everyone’s contracts, he received a new offer proposing less money than he was previously earning. “I don’t think it’s worth it,” he remarked, also citing his lack of activity, having only fought twice in two years. He desired a significantly more active fighting schedule.
He felt that going elsewhere, even with a pay cut, was the superior decision if it meant staying active, which he considers paramount right now.
Hokit (4-0) has indeed been more active since leaving PFL/Bellator, having competed as many times for LFA in 2025 alone as he did during his entire tenure with the previous promotions. The undefeated 4-0 heavyweight is set to compete for the third time in 2025 this Friday against Eric Lunsford at LFA 208.
The fighter indicated that the contract renegotiation with PFL presented a substantial decrease in pay, but even without that, he might have chosen to leave regardless.
“It was like a $20,000 difference,” Hokit explained. “I was like, it’s not even worth it right now.” At his current stage, he prioritizes gaining more experience. He felt PFL was potentially going to put him in tough situations early on for less compensation. Opting to go elsewhere, gain experience, and climb the ranks felt like a better path for him.
He speculated that PFL might have intended to include him in their tournament. Given his limited fight experience (only two fights), he questioned if that was the optimal decision, ultimately deciding to seek opportunities elsewhere to gain more experience and work his way up.
Initially, after the merger, it seemed they wanted to retain him. However, his contract was set to expire within a year and a half, during which he only fought twice. He felt the contract was ending anyway. While PFL seemed open to him competing in other organizations to gain experience while still fighting for them, Hokit became disillusioned with the entire PFL and Bellator situation.
He began questioning his ultimate goal. “Why am I even fighting in the first place? I’m not fighting to be PFL champion. I’m fighting to be UFC champion.” He affirmed that his primary ambition is to be in the UFC.
Hokit, a former standout in college football and wrestling, was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Francisco 49ers in 2020. After an inconsistent two-year period with the 49ers, he briefly signed with the Arizona Cardinals for just five days before being released, concluding his football career.
The 27-year-old transitioned to mixed martial arts and has achieved significant early success. In fact, Hokit believes his upcoming bout this Friday has a strong chance of being his final fight outside of the TKO/UFC organizational structure.
“I already actually signed a contract with Dana White Contender Series for August,” Hokit revealed. He is taking this LFA fight primarily for additional experience, understanding the current landscape where fighters entering the Contender Series are often highly experienced from various global promotions and prepared for UFC-level competition.
He notes that the heavyweight division is somewhat different, lacking the overall depth or perhaps the same level of diverse skill seen in lighter divisions like featherweight (145 pounds).
Hokit believes his current skill set allows him to compete effectively with and ultimately defeat fighters in the heavyweight division. He feels that after securing his fifth win in this upcoming LFA bout, he won`t necessarily require many more fights, although more experience is always beneficial. He feels prepared for the Contender Series and whatever opportunities follow.
