Josh Hokit on turning Dana White after UFC 327 win, ‘lazy fighters’ not doing the same

MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 11: Josh Hokit reacts after a victory against Curtis Blaydes in a heavyweight fight during the UFC 327 event at Kaseya Center on April 11, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC) Josh Hokit’s performance at UFC 327 a couple of months ago not only got him a spot at the White House, but it completely turned Dana White in the process.The UFC CEO admitted he wasn’t a fan of Hokit’s persona heading into his biggest fight to date with Curtis Blaydes in April, but after delivering one of the all-time great heavyweight bouts, White said he was done giving Hokit any grief.

“I’m one of them [that doesn’t like his character],” White said at the UFC 327 post-fight press conference. “He walked the talk tonight. When people come out and say stupid shit and have sort of a schtick, it’s not my thing.

But nothing but respect for both of those men tonight.“That fight was unbelievable. You won’t hear a word out of me from here on out about him.

Like I said, he walked the talk.”Ahead of his fight with Derrick Lewis at UFC White House, the 28-year-old rising star was asked about White’s change of heart towards him. “Now, would Dana want it…

and I’m grateful for the UFC, I mean, for even giving me that opportunity. Wow,” Hokit told MMA Fighting. “When I shake their hand, I’m like, thank you for this opportunity, I’m going to make the most of it, and you could even ask them before, the Curtis Blaydes face-off, I’m like, I’m going to make the most of it, just watch.

“But it’s like, would you rather me talk a normal big game, ‘Oh, we’re going to go to war, we’re going to do this, we’re going to do that.’ Normal answers, normal person, and then I could give you a shit show of a fight, you know what I’m saying? So it’s like, what’s important here?”

Hokit has used multiple characters throughout his fight builds since signing with the UFC after an undefeated run with Bellator and LFA. “The Incredible Hok” has been on a rocket ship in the heavyweight divi