UFC Freedom 250 | June 14, 2026 | South Lawn, The White House, Washington D.C.
The all-time UFC knockout record holder against the undefeated rising star who just beat a top-five heavyweight. Derrick Lewis (29-13, 1 NC) brings 15 career UFC knockouts and the kind of one-punch power that makes every second of every round dangerous. Josh Hokit (9-0) is riding a wave of momentum after dismantling Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 in what many are calling the heavyweight Fight of the Year.
This fight was announced as a late addition to the UFC Freedom 250 card, and it immediately became one of the most anticipated matchups on the entire event. Lewis is the old guard. Hokit is the new generation. Both men hit extremely hard, and neither one knows how to take a step backward.
Fighter Comparison
| Statistic | Derrick Lewis | Josh Hokit |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 29-13-0 (1 NC) | 9-0-0 |
| Age | 41 | 28 |
| Height | 6'3" (191 cm) | 6'1" (185 cm) |
| Reach | 79" (201 cm) | 73" (185 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Sig. Strikes/Min | 2.42* | N/A** |
| Striking Accuracy | 44%* | N/A** |
| Takedown Defense | 62%* | N/A** |
*Lewis career stats from UFCStats.com
**Hokit's limited UFC sample size (3 fights) means advanced per-minute statistics are not yet reliable. His UFC 327 performance against Blaydes showed high-volume striking with over 175 significant strikes landed across three rounds.
The physical comparison tells an interesting story. Lewis holds an eight-inch reach advantage and two inches of height over Hokit. But Hokit is 13 years younger, carries explosive athleticism from his college football background at Fresno State, and has the wrestling base to close distance against longer opponents.
Betting Odds
| Bookmaker | Derrick Lewis | Josh Hokit |
|---|---|---|
| Stake | +225 | -275 |
| Duel | +210 | -260 |
| Gamdom | +240 | -300 |
Hokit enters as the clear favorite following his breakout performance at UFC 327. The odds reflect the momentum swing in Hokit's favor, but Lewis at +225 or better represents legitimate underdog value. At heavyweight, one punch changes everything, and nobody in UFC history has demonstrated that truth more consistently than Derrick Lewis.
Fight Preview and Prediction
Lewis's Path to Victory
Derrick Lewis has been counted out more times than any fighter in UFC history, and he keeps proving people wrong. He is 41 years old, coming off a loss to Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC 324, and he sits at #8 in the heavyweight rankings. On paper, the trajectory points down.
But Lewis does not fight on paper. He fights in the Octagon, where his right hand carries the kind of power that renders age and technique irrelevant. He holds the UFC record for heavyweight knockouts with 15, and several of those came in fights where he was losing badly before landing one shot that ended everything.
His gameplan against Hokit will be simple: stay patient, absorb the initial storm, and wait for the moment Hokit leaves his chin exposed. Lewis has survived against better technical strikers than Hokit. He survived against better wrestlers than Hokit. What he does better than anyone else in heavyweight history is find that one clean shot that puts people on the canvas.
Hokit's Path to Victory
Josh Hokit is the most exciting heavyweight prospect to enter the UFC in years. The 28-year-old is undefeated at 9-0, earned his UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series in 2025, and then beat Curtis Blaydes, a top-five ranked heavyweight, in just his third Octagon appearance.
His UFC 327 performance showed everything you need to know about his potential. He and Blaydes combined for over 350 significant strikes in a fight that had both fighters sent to the hospital afterward. Hokit won all three rounds on every scorecard and earned a double bonus (Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night).
Hokit brings a wrestling background, raw power, and the kind of cardio that Lewis cannot match. His gameplan will likely involve pushing pace from the opening bell, mixing in takedowns to tire Lewis, and staying in Lewis's face when the fight returns to the feet. Lewis has historically struggled against opponents who maintain pressure for multiple rounds, and Hokit's gas tank gives him a structural advantage in rounds two and three.
The Key Factor
Cardio versus power. Lewis has one-punch knockout ability but fades in the later rounds. Hokit has the conditioning to push a three-round pace but must survive the early moments when Lewis is most dangerous. If Hokit can take Lewis into the third round without getting knocked out, the fight should be his.
The age gap matters. Lewis at 41 has lost step-off speed and recovery time between rounds. Hokit at 28 is in his physical prime and coming off the most grueling fight of his career. The question is whether Hokit's chin can survive what Lewis throws in the first round.
Our Prediction
Winner: Josh Hokit by Unanimous Decision
Confidence: MEDIUM
Hokit will push the pace, mix in takedowns, and outwork Lewis over three rounds. Lewis will have his moments and will test Hokit's chin in the first round, but Hokit's conditioning, youth, and wrestling will carry him to a comfortable decision. Lewis has struggled with pressure fighters who maintain output, and Hokit is built to maintain output.
The live underdog play here is Lewis by KO in Round 1. If you want to throw a small bet on Lewis catching Hokit early, that prop likely pays well enough to justify the risk.
Recent Fights
Derrick Lewis
| Opponent | Result | Method | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waldo Cortes-Acosta | L | KO (R2) | UFC 324 |
| Rodrigo Nascimento | W | KO (R1) | UFC Fight Night (2024) |
| Serghei Spivac | W | KO (R1) | UFC Fight Night (2024) |
Josh Hokit
| Opponent | Result | Method | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curtis Blaydes | W | Unanimous Decision | UFC 327 |
| DWCS Opponent | W | TKO | Dana White's Contender Series (2025) |
| Regional Opponent | W | Submission | Pre-UFC (2025) |
Hokit's full pre-UFC record includes fights on the regional circuit. His UFC career is three fights deep, all victories.
Where to Bet on Lewis vs Hokit
Stake is the best book for this fight if you are playing the underdog. Lewis at +225 is strong value for a fighter who can end any heavyweight fight with a single punch. Stake also offers round-by-round knockout props that pay well on Lewis finishes.
Duel provides the tightest overall spread with Hokit at -260 and Lewis at +210. If you are backing the favorite, Duel gives you the best return on a Hokit win.
Gamdom rounds out the options with strong prop market depth. Their method-of-victory betting is well-priced for a heavyweight fight where both KO and decision are realistic outcomes.
FAQ
Who is Josh Hokit?
Josh Hokit is a 28-year-old undefeated heavyweight from California. He is a former college football player at Fresno State who transitioned to MMA and earned his UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series in 2025. He trains at Jackson-Wink MMA in Albuquerque. He beat #5 ranked Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 in a Fight of the Year candidate and earned a spot on the UFC Freedom 250 card as a late addition.
How many knockouts does Derrick Lewis have?
Derrick Lewis holds the all-time UFC heavyweight knockout record with 15 KO/TKO victories. He also holds the overall UFC record for knockouts regardless of weight class with 16 career KO/TKOs.
Why was this fight added late?
Dana White announced Lewis vs Hokit as an addition to UFC Freedom 250 after Hokit's breakout performance at UFC 327 on April 11, 2026. The fight was added to capitalize on Hokit's momentum and give fans another heavyweight showdown on the card.
What are the odds?
Hokit is favored between -260 and -300 depending on the bookmaker. Lewis is the underdog at +210 to +240. At heavyweight, underdog odds carry more weight because a single clean punch can end any fight regardless of the betting line.
How to watch Lewis vs Hokit?
This fight is part of the UFC Freedom 250 main card airing live on Paramount+ starting at 6 PM ET on June 14, 2026. Preliminary bouts are on CBS.