Josh Hokit has made it clear that he’s not expecting Derrick Lewis to back down tomorrow night, telling him directly that this is a fight he doesn’t plan to walk away from.
Back in January at UFC 324, Lewis took some criticism for his performance against Waldo Cortes-Acosta, where he hit the canvas twice before losing in the second round. Meanwhile, Hokit picked up the first of his three performance bonuses that year with a knockout win in the first round. Now, they’re set to meet at UFC Freedom 250.
Plenty of fans are calling this heavyweight matchup the ‘people’s main event’, especially after Hokit’s antics throughout fight week. And if their final face-off is any indication, we might be looking at a battle that goes well beyond its scheduled 15 minutes.
Josh Hokit and Derrick Lewis separated during an intense face-off
This week, Josh Hokit has left his ‘Incredible Hok’ persona behind, choosing a more subdued approach. He’s been quiet for most of the build-up, but showed up to the ceremonial weigh-ins wearing his trademark USA flag headband.
When the official weigh-in took place earlier in the day, there was a significant difference between the two fighters. Derrick Lewis hit the heavyweight limit at 265 pounds, while Hokit came in lighter at 231 pounds.
During their final face-off, Hokit was noticeably more aggressive than he had been throughout the week. He pointed at Lewis, who responded by pushing him back before security and Dana White stepped in to separate them.
A clip from a different angle caught Hokit saying: “Don’t give up. Don’t take my glory away from me. I’ll find you after and we’ll fight in the parking lot.”
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