Josh Hokit

AJ does not make a clear pick for this fight. He mentions that Hokit will likely wrestle Derrick Lewis, but does not state a winner.

Angelo calls this his most confident spot on the card, picking Josh Hokit. He highlights Hokit's relentless pressure and no-quit attitude, contrasting it with Derrick Lewis's tendency to quit when things go wrong. He believes Hokit can wrestle or strike and will make Lewis quit.

Big Brady picks Josh Hokit to win by first-round knockout. He expects Hokit to mix in wrestling and ground-and-pound, breaking Lewis early. He notes Lewis has been finished 10 times and quit in his last fight. However, he warns that if Hokit stands and bangs like he did against Curtis Blaydes, Lewis could knock him out. He also likes the under 7.5 minutes fight time prop.

Connor picks Hokit, citing Lewis's bad vibes and tendency to quit when things get tough. He compares Lewis to Bob Sapp, saying Lewis will try hard for a moment but if it doesn't work, he doesn't want to fight. Hokit is a nut job who will be in Lewis's face the whole time, and Connor believes Hokit's insane pressure will overwhelm Lewis.

Daniel Levi picks Josh Hokit to win, citing his weaponized cardio, pace, and well-roundedness. He notes that if Hokit can survive Lewis's early knockout power (first round and a half), he will drown Lewis with pressure and wrestling. Levi compares Hokit to a young Cain Velasquez and highlights his D1 wrestling background and NFL athleticism. He acknowledges Lewis's knockout threat but believes Hokit's durability and fight IQ will carry him to victory.

The host is extremely high on Hokit, calling him the uncrowned king of heavyweight, but notes the odds are too steep (implied 78%) to bet him. Lewis has one-shot KO power, so the host says it's dog or pass, but does not bet Lewis either.

Jacob picks Josh Hokit, noting that Derrick Lewis is always live with a punch but Hokit is faster and will come in aggressive. He believes Hokit will try to make a statement and either knock Lewis out or land enough shots to finish him early.

Lucrative James picks Josh Hokit to win via knockout in round one. He acknowledges that Hokit's aggressive showmanship could give Lewis a chance, but believes Hokit's pace, wrestling, and youth will overwhelm Lewis, who he considers past his prime and prone to quitting. He predicts Hokit will finish with ground-and-pound or a knockout.

Hokit is smart in the cage and will likely use his wrestling early to take Lewis down and ride him, similar to his fight against Uriel. Lewis has knockout power but is limited technically and older; Hokit's pace and pressure should wear him down for a TKO in round 2 or 3.

The Guru picks Josh Hokit by first-round TKO via grappling. He believes Hokit will shoot takedowns immediately, drag Lewis down, and put a crazy pace on him. He notes Lewis has a history of quitting and that Hokit's wrestling and pressure will be too much. He expects Hokit to avoid Lewis's power by not trading on the feet and to finish with ground-and-pound against the cage.

Angelo picks Curtis Blaydes, citing his experience and wrestling, though he notes Blaydes' poor chin and recent struggles. He is skeptical of Josh Hokit's level of competition and thinks Blaydes can survive early chaos and take over late. He stays away from betting due to the fight's unpredictability.

Big Brady is intrigued by Josh Barnett (Hokit) despite the massive step up in competition. He notes Blaydes has been knocked out five times and has stopped wrestling, while Barnett has shown pressure and power. He thinks Barnett could knock out Blaydes or get takedowns and ground-and-pound. He finds the line weird, expecting Blaydes to be a bigger favorite.

Cody also picks Hokit, emphasizing his athleticism, pace, and wrestling. He thinks Hokit's speed and pressure will overwhelm Blaydes, who has a history of knockout losses and is coming off a knee injury.

Connor picks Blaydes but is hesitant, noting that Blaydes has unlearned MMA by becoming overly technical and anxious. He points out that Hokit is a raw fighter with speed and power takedowns, but his striking is just bravado. Connor believes Blaydes should win by using his wrestling and pressure, but he worries that Blaydes' anxiety and tendency to overthink could lead to a loss. He says he won't be shocked if Blaydes loses, which is stupid for a fight like this.

Daniel is high on Hokit, comparing his style to a young Cain Velasquez. He thinks Blaydes is on the decline, chinny, and coming off a poor performance, while Hokit has better wrestling and faster hands.

The host believes Blaydes is a good bet because Hokit is an unknown who has never faced top competition, while Blaydes is arguably the best MMA grappler in the heavyweight division. He notes Hokit's striking looks flat and he lacks power, making it unlikely he can exploit Blaydes' weakness on the feet. Additionally, Hokit's cringey antics add pressure and performance anxiety, which historically few fighters handle well. He caps Blaydes at 60% chance of winning, providing value at the current odds.

James picks Blaydes due to his experience and ability to weather early pressure, expecting Hokit to fade after the first round. He acknowledges Hokit's potential but believes it's too soon for him.

Blaydes is a veteran with superior wrestling and experience. Hokit is a prospect but this is a massive step up in competition. Hokit's cardio is questionable after expending energy in previous fights. Blaydes can outwrestle and outpoint Hokit, and may even finish him in rounds 2 or 3. Hokit lacks the knockout power to threaten Blaydes, who only loses to elite power punchers.

Paul is very confident in Hokit, citing Blaydes' durability issues, knee injury, and Hokit's superior wrestling and pace. He believes Hokit will swarm Blaydes early and get a finish.

The MMA Guru picks Curtis Blaydes over Josh Hokit. He believes Blaydes is too composed and experienced, and Hokit's wins are over unranked heavyweights. He notes Blaydes moves well and has good grappling defense. He predicts a TKO in the second or third round, possibly catching Hokit coming in.

Angelo picks Josh Hokit, calling him a potential superstar with athleticism, speed, and power. He acknowledges Denzel Freeman's impressive highlights but notes his terrible UFC debut where he made noises instead of fighting. He expects Hokit's wrestling and forward pressure to be too much, though he warns the fight could be oddly competitive.

Big Brady leans Freeman despite his poor UFC debut, citing his striking and wrestling background. He thinks the line is inflated due to recency bias. He expects a striking fight since both are wrestlers, and Freeman has the edge on the feet. He predicts Freeman by decision, though he thinks the fight might be slow.

Cody leans toward Ian Freeman, citing his wrestling and durability. He notes Freeman's Greco-Roman background should help him stuff takedowns, and his striking is underrated. Cody believes Freeman can outwork Hokit if the fight goes past the first round, and likes the over 1.5 rounds prop.

Connor picks Freeman because he can grind out tough fights and has shown durability, never being knocked out. He notes that Hokit seems like a fighter who either wins instantly or melts down, and Freeman has experience in ugly, grindy fights. Connor is not confident but leans Freeman.

Daniel Vreeland picks Josh Hokit but is not confident. He notes that Hokit is a good prospect but needs to prove himself against better competition. Freeman is an awkward wrestler with a Greco background, which could neutralize Hokit's wrestling. Vreeland is curious to see how the fight plays out on the feet and whether Hokit can dominate on the ground.

James leans towards Freeman as an underdog, citing his better overall striking and value at plus odds. He notes Hokit has knockout power but Freeman's kicking and boxing are superior. However, he is not confident and plans to tape study more.

The host leans towards Hokit by TKO, citing his fight IQ and ability to push a pace. He acknowledges Freeman is more skilled but believes Hokit is the better fighter who will dig deeper. He suggests Freeman is a no-brainer dog shot due to his skill advantage, but picks Hokit to smother Freeman and finish in the second or third round.

Paul picks Josh Hokit but is not confident, noting Freeman's wrestling background and size advantage. He believes Hokit's athleticism and pressure could overwhelm Freeman, but worries about Hokit's cardio and inexperience. Paul prefers the over 1.5 rounds prop.

The MMA Guru picks Josh Hokit, calling him a 'blob destroyer' who finishes fights early. He contrasts Hokit's first-round TKOs with Denzel Freeman's forgettable debut, and believes Hokit will become a contender. He predicts a first-round finish.

Angelo slightly leans Josh Hokit because he believes athleticism and early takedowns with ground-and-pound can overcome Max Gimenes' world-class jiu-jitsu. He is surprised by the heavy favorite odds (-425) for a UFC debutant with only six fights, and thinks the odds will tighten. He warns that if Hokit tries to control without striking, he could get swept or submitted.

Big Brady is not sold on Jimenez as an MMA fighter, noting he is primarily a grappler with poor wrestling and no striking. He believes Hokit should win easily due to his wrestling, cardio, and power. He predicts Hokit by first-round TKO, as Jimenez might roll for a leg and get pounded.

Cody picks Hokit, citing his wrestling, cardio, and athleticism. He thinks Gimenis will gas in the second round and Hokit will take over with chain wrestling.

Lucrative James picks Josh Hokit easily, noting he seems better everywhere. He admits he hasn't seen much tape on Max Gimenis but expects Hokit to finish him inside the first round. He plans to do more research later.

The host is high on Hokit, citing his grinding wrestling pace and high cardio as key advantages in the heavyweight division. He expects Hokit to make the fight look easy and eventually secure a second or third round TKO.

Paul picks Hokit, noting Gimenis's lack of MMA experience and poor striking defense. He thinks Hokit's wrestling will be too much.