Josh Hocutt was notably grounded and respectful after his MMA debut at Bellator 300 in October 2023, thanking coaches, parents, and fans. Even six months ago, Hocutt remained genuine and authentic. However, this year he has fully embraced a character persona, providing constant antics at weigh-ins and other promotional events. While this generates content for social media clips and views, the analysis suggests constant clowning quickly becomes tiresome. In a January interview with Ariel Helwani, Hocutt portrayed himself as unhinged from start to finish, making it difficult to watch. The commentary emphasizes the importance of moderation in promotional antics.
