In a stunning turn of events at UFC 327, President Donald Trump has officially crowned rising heavyweight Josh Hokit as his new favorite fighter, leapfrogging legendary undefeated champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in the process.
The electrifying event, held at Miami's Kaseya Center, delivered plenty of fireworks, but none bigger than Hokit's meteoric rise. The former practice squad player has quickly become a main card headliner, and his gritty victory over Curtis Blaydes in a back-and-forth heavyweight war has fans buzzing.
Hokit's win pushed him into the division's top five, an impressive feat considering he's only three fights into his UFC career. But it wasn't just the rankings that changed—it was the presidential spotlight.
Trump, a longtime UFC supporter who Dana White credits for providing venues during the promotion's early days, previously held Khabib in the highest regard. During a 2024 live stream with Adin Ross, Trump praised the Dagestani legend: "I think Khabib was 29-0, and then his father died and he stopped. He never lost a round. He fought many times, he never lost a round."
Khabib's legacy is undeniable—undefeated in 29 fights and widely considered one of the greatest to ever step into the Octagon. But in the fast-paced world of combat sports, even legends can be overtaken in the public eye.
After Hokit's win over Blaydes, he shared a surreal moment with matchmaker Mick Maynard. Recalling the encounter on the Smash Cast, Hokit said: "When I was going to the ambulance after the fight, Mick comes up to me and says, 'You are now Donald Trump's new favorite fighter.'"
This isn't just talk—there's a major event on the horizon. Hokit is scheduled to return this June, and not just anywhere: the fight will take place on the White House lawn. In a card that's already generating massive hype, Hokit will face Derrick Lewis in the fourth bout of the evening. The matchup reportedly came together after Trump specifically requested Lewis' inclusion.
With the heavyweight division heating up and a presidential endorsement in his corner, Josh Hokit is proving that in the UFC, a few fights—and the right attention—can change everything.