Josh Hokit appeared at a media day and delivered an extremely strange speech involving violent imagery directed at Curtis Blaydes and Alex Pereira. Hokit stated he would defeat Blaydes, then described a bizarre scenario involving stitching together body parts of multiple ranked fighters in the manner of a "human centipede" that he would keep on a leash. The comments were noted as highly unusual and prompted reactions questioning what substance Hokit may have taken. His speech drew comparisons to another fighter, Gene Silva, known for eccentric behaviour. No context was provided for what prompted the outburst or whether it was intended as promotional trash talk.
Josh Hokit turned heads at a media day on April 8 when the undefeated prospect delivered one of the strangest pre-fight speeches in recent memory, name-dropping UFC heavyweight contender Curtis Blaydes and light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira in a rambling, violent monologue that left observers searching for explanations.
Hokit, who carries a perfect 5-0 record and fights under the nickname "The Incredible Hok," is just 28 years old and still building his professional profile. His striking and grappling stats in the verified record are essentially blank, reflecting how early he is in his career, which makes the boldness of his targets all the more striking.
Blaydes, nicknamed "Razor," is a 35-year-old American heavyweight ranked fourth in his division with a 19-6 record. Fighting out of Elevation Fight Team, he is one of the sport's most relentless wrestlers, averaging 5.38 takedowns per 15 minutes. Hokit claimed he would defeat Blaydes, then escalated into territory that had nothing to do with conventional trash talk.
The speech veered into imagery involving stitching ranked fighters' body parts together in the fashion of a human centipede, which Hokit described keeping on a leash. Also mentioned was Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion out of Brazil. The 38-year-old "Poatan" holds a 13-4 record and is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous strikers in the sport, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy over a six-foot-four frame with a 79-inch reach.
Reactions at the media day centered on bewilderment rather than outrage. Observers publicly questioned what Hokit may have consumed before taking the microphone, and his behavior drew comparisons to Gene Silva, another fighter known for unconventional public appearances. No context was offered for what prompted the remarks or whether they were intended as an elaborate promotional stunt.
Why it matters
- Hokit is an unproven 5-0 fighter targeting two of the division's most recognizable names with no apparent competitive pathway to either
- The incident raises questions about how seriously the comments will be received in a sport where calculated trash talk carries weight
- Comparisons to Gene Silva suggest Hokit may be cultivating a deliberately eccentric public persona
