Although considered a promising heavyweight prospect at PFL, Josh Hokit ultimately decided to leave the promotion. His departure came after competing only once since PFL`s merger with Bellator.
“They made the decision somewhat easy for me,” Hokit explained. “They renegotiated contracts for all fighters. My previous contract offered a bit more money, but the new one they sent proposed less. I felt it wasn`t worth it, especially since I had only fought twice in two years. I really wanted to be much more active.”
“I decided it was best to look elsewhere, even if it meant taking a pay cut,” he added. “Right now, my main priority is staying active.”
Hokit (4-0) has certainly been more active recently. He has already competed for LFA this year as many times as he did throughout his entire tenure with PFL and Bellator combined. The undefeated heavyweight is scheduled for his third fight recently this Friday at LFA 208, where he will face Eric Lunsford.
The undefeated fighter noted that the proposed new PFL contract represented a significant drop in pay compared to his previous earnings. He suggested that even without the pay cut, he might have still chosen to leave anyhow.
“It was about a $20,000 difference,” Hokit stated. “I thought, at this stage of my career, it`s not really worth it. I need more experience. I wasn`t sure if it was their intention, but it felt like they were going to put me in tough fights immediately for less money. I decided it would be better to go elsewhere, gain more experience, and climb the ranks that way. I believe that was the better choice and a better situation for me.”
“I suspect they planned to put me in the tournament,” he continued. “With only two professional fights at the time, I wasn`t sure if that was the best step. So ultimately, I decided leaving to gain more experience and work my way up was the right path.”
“Initially, after the merger, it seemed like they still wanted to keep me,” he recalled. “My contract was for about a year and a half, during which I only fought twice. I believe the contract was simply coming to an end. They gave the impression they wanted to re-sign me. I even discussed the possibility of fighting in other promotions to gain experience and still compete for PFL later, which they seemed agreeable to. However, I just became turned off by the overall situation with PFL and the Bellator integration.”
He added, “I asked myself, what`s my ultimate fighting goal? It`s not to become PFL champion; it`s to become UFC champion. My clear objective is to reach the UFC.”
Hokit, who was a standout in both college football and wrestling, was initially signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Francisco 49ers in 2020. His football career included a two-year period with the 49ers, marked by being signed and released, followed by a brief five-day stint with the Arizona Cardinals before ultimately being waived, which concluded his time in football.
The 27-year-old fighter then transitioned to mixed martial arts and has quickly found considerable success. Hokit indicated that his upcoming fight this Friday could very well be his last before potentially entering the TKO/UFC promotional structure.
“I`ve actually already signed a contract for Dana White`s Contender Series for August,” Hokit revealed. “I`m taking this LFA fight simply to gain more experience. I understand how the UFC landscape is now – fighters entering are highly prepared, often with diverse experience from around the globe. They are ready to be contenders, and I`m approaching it with the same mindset.”
He contrasted the heavyweight division with lighter weight classes: “Heavyweight is a bit different; the depth isn`t quite there. How can I put it? The heavyweight division isn`t very deep. Fighters might not have the same level of intricate skill you see in, say, the 145-pound division.”
“Given my current skill set, I believe I can compete effectively with those fighters and ultimately beat them all,” he asserted. “After this upcoming fight, I`ll have five wins. While more fights are always beneficial, I feel ready for the Contender Series and whatever opportunities follow. I don`t feel the need to take significantly more fights than necessary before then.”
Percy Harlow