Morning Report | Josh Hokit laments lack of personality in modern MMA: ‘Back then, you had wild men’

Key Points:

• Josh Hokit, a former wrestler and collegiate football player, has quickly risen as a breakout MMA star after his UFC debut in November, earning multiple Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses in just three fights.
• Hokit is notable not only for his in-cage performances but also for his colorful pro-wrestling style personas and outspoken personality, which he believes are lacking in modern MMA.
• He criticizes the current UFC culture for being too serious and sanitized, suggesting that fighters are pressured to maintain a "cool" image rather than express genuine personality and intensity.
• UFC officials have sometimes pushed back against Hokit's antics, reflecting a broader issue of the sport’s controlled image, which Hokit argues diminishes the raw nature of MMA competition.
• Despite mixed reactions to his style, Hokit's approach has earned him high-profile fights, including a bout against Derrick Lewis at UFC White House on June 14, and recognition from UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard as a standout personality.