Heavyweight, Josh Hokit (5-0) Vs. Guilherme Uriel (6-1)
Notable notes
- Hokit trains out of the superior gym in Jackson Wink
- Neither man has ever seen the scorecards
- Uriel has never been outside round one
- Both fighters have mixed wins coming by KO/TKO and Submission
- Hokit went 2-0 in Bellator
Josh Hokit
-Good footwork
-Submission threat
-Strong position grappling
-Good jab
-Solid wrestling
-Active ground and pound
-Opposing top control
-Susceptible to leg kicks
It’s no surprise that Hokit is getting this opportunity, as he’s easily one of the top heavyweight prospects right now. A highly touted athlete coming into MMA, Hokit was a two-time All-American wrestler at Fresno State and even played fullback in the NFL. He made his pro debut in Bellator and has since gained valuable experience with three fights in LFA.
Wrestling is Hokit’s clear strength. While he occasionally shoots from too far out, his athleticism often bails him out. He times his level changes well, especially on single legs, where he runs the pipe to finish. In open space, he wrestles with excellent speed and technique, which is rare for a heavyweight.
Hokit has a diverse mix of finishes— submissions like armbars, RNCs, and arm-triangles, plus ground-and-pound stoppages. He’s not the most technical grappler, but thrives as a ride-heavy wrestler. His hip and leg rides, combined with strong transitional control, allow him to wear opponents down with short strikes before taking the back or hunting submissions.
On the feet, Hokit shows promise with a sharp jab and good movement for the division. But as of now, his striking is limited, mostly single shots with little setup or follow-up. In his debut, his leg got chewed up largely because he wasn’t presenting enough threats standing.
That said, Hokit is only 27 and already brings elite wrestling, athleticism, conditioning, and a solid ground game to the table. With a few adjustments on the feet, he has all the tools to develop into a real contender at heavyweight.
Guilherme Uriel
-Heavy leg kicks
-Fast starter
-Sloppy hands
-Advances in recklessly
-Awful cardio
-Sits in the pocket too long
-Lacks durability
Uriel earned this opportunity by being a proven finisher. Every one of his wins has come inside the first round. In fact, he’s never fought beyond the five-minute mark. He’s an LFA veteran, which remains one of the top pipelines to DWCS. His lone loss came against Lucas Camacho, who competed on the Contender Series last season. A disappointing performance considering the level Camacho brings.
Uriel is more of a brawler than a technician. He doesn’t throw with much setup or strategy, he simply throws heavy leather. He does have real power in both his hands and kicks, but as a smaller heavyweight with limited technique and no layered striking, he’s going to hit a ceiling against higher-level competition.
At the next level, to make up for that lack of polish, he’d need elite durability and one-shot knockout power. So far, he doesn’t seem to possess either in a way that would make him a serious threat.
Prediction: This feels like a one-sided matchup for Hokit. Yes, it’s heavyweight and anything can happen, but a Uriel win would be a fluke. Hokit may not be the most active striker, but he’s a far superior athlete. He has better technique, cleaner movement, and far better cardio. He won’t be gassed two minutes in.
If Hokit wants to wrestle, he could likely secure a takedown within the first twenty seconds. Once it hits the mat, the fight is his to control. The real question is how he chooses to win, because he’ll have the ability to dictate the fight from start to finish.
