Hokit Joins UFC Freedom 250 White House Card After Victory Over Blaydes

(AsiaGameHub) –   Josh Hokit has ascended to the UFC heavyweight contender ranks and secured a spot on the UFC Freedom 250 White House card following a thrilling main event bout against Curtis Blaydes.

Dana White Adds Hokit to the White House UFC Event

The light heavyweight title bout was not the sole matchup that electrified the sold-out crowd of nearly 18,000 attendees. The heavyweight contest between No. 5-ranked Curtis Blaydes and emerging prospect Josh Hokit evolved into a chaotic three-round war, establishing a new UFC heavyweight record with 351 combined significant strikes. Of these, Blaydes landed 151 to the head with 87% accuracy, while Hokit connected with 164 at 93%.

Shortly after the fight concluded, UFC CEO Dana White announced that Hokit had been added to the UFC Freedom 250 card, where he is slated to face veteran Derrick Lewis on the White House lawn. Notably, White confessed that he was not impressed with Hokit’s showboating leading up to the previous night’s fight, and his sentiments did not improve once the action commenced. However, Hokit’s performance within the Octagon ultimately shifted the UFC CEO’s perspective on the California native, prompting him to offer Hokit a place on the White House card.

A few weeks prior, White provided an update on the White House event, stating that its organization was nearing completion after discussions with President Donald Trump. The event is scheduled for June to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the USA’s establishment.

How Did the Fight Go?

Hokit dictated the pace for a significant portion of the fight on Saturday. He nearly secured the opening round with a flurry of strikes and a few taunting middle fingers directed at a visibly surprised Blaydes. However, the veteran regrouped, mounted a late comeback, and swept the round on all three judges’ scorecards.

Despite this, Hokit continued to press forward, displaying quicker hands and steadily wearing down Blaydes, whose face bore the brunt of the punishment. Blaydes demonstrated resilience by refusing to be knocked down, but in doing so, he also contributed to a historic moment.

Unofficially, the bout featured the most significant strikes ever thrown in a three-round UFC heavyweight fight, surpassing the previous record by nearly 40. What transpired was an unexpected war of attrition between two fighters typically known for their wrestling-heavy styles.

Hokit, making his third appearance in the UFC, fought with the intensity of someone aiming for a career-defining victory. Meanwhile, Blaydes appeared to remain standing more out of pride and sheer stubbornness than any other reason.

In related news concerning the White House UFC event, popular podcast host and UFC commentator Joe Rogan has recently voiced concerns that Iran might target the event in retaliation for the ongoing war, which has been active for several weeks.