Rising heavyweight contender Josh Hokit is about to face the biggest test of his career.
The undefeated knockout artist will square off against longtime contender Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 in Miami, a matchup that could instantly shake up the heavyweight rankings and fast-track Hokit into title contention.
Josh Hokit has quickly become one of the UFC’s most exciting heavyweight prospects. The former Dana White’s Contender Series standout delivered an early “Knockout of the Year” candidate when he stopped Denzel Freeman with just one second remaining in Round 1 at UFC 324.
That victory pushed Josh Hokit to 8-0 and marked back-to-back knockout wins since joining the promotion.
At a time when the heavyweight division has struggled with inactivity, Josh Hokit’s aggressive fighting style and confident personality have injected fresh energy into the weight class. His forward pressure, finishing instincts, and comfort on the microphone continue to build momentum behind his rise.
With undisputed champion Tom Aspinall still without a confirmed return date, contenders across the division are positioning themselves for a title opportunity and Josh Hokit appears determined to force his way into that conversation.
The UFC officially confirmed that Josh Hokit will face Blaydes at UFC 327, scheduled for April 11 at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
Blaydes enters the bout as one of the division’s most experienced veterans. Since joining the UFC roster in 2016, he has defeated elite heavyweights such as Jailton Almeida, Chris Daukaus, and Jairzinho Rozenstruik. He most recently returned to the win column with a split-decision victory over Rizvan Kuniev at UFC Baku.
For Blaydes, the fight represents a chance to halt a surging prospect. For Josh Hokit, it’s an opportunity to leap directly into the heavyweight Top 5.
Josh Hokit’s journey to this moment has been rapid. After early success outside the UFC, he secured a contract through Dana White’s Contender Series and immediately made an impact inside the Octagon.
He scored a 56-second knockout in his promotional debut and followed it with another dominant finish at UFC 324, earning consecutive “Performance of the Night” bonuses.
Despite having only eight professional fights, Josh Hokit has already positioned himself as a legitimate threat in the division.
The heavyweight landscape remains wide open. Fighters like Ciryl Gane continue to chase title opportunities, while new contenders attempt to break into the elite tier. A victory at UFC 327 would place Josh Hokit firmly among those names.
The UFC 327 card continues to take shape as one of the promotion’s biggest events of the year. The co-main event features flyweight champion Joshua Van defending his title against Tatsuro Taira, while the main event remains unannounced.
Still, few matchups carry as much long-term significance as Josh Hokit vs. Curtis Blaydes.
