UFC heavyweight Josh Hokit has remained in the spotlight since competing at the White House in June. He recently drew renewed attention after responding to Jake Paul’s $1 million challenge for NFL players. Hokit, a former NFL practice-squad player, said he could beat Paul in boxing and any other sport.
Paul later invited Hokit to Puerto Rico for a boxing match. The exchange has generated interest because it pits an established boxer against an undefeated UFC heavyweight with an NFL background. However, no fight or formal sparring session has been announced.
A White House comment sparks lasting backlash
A White House comment sparks lasting backlash. Hokit competed at UFC Freedom 250 on the White House South Lawn on June 14, and after stopping Derrick Lewis in the second round, he made a false and offensive remark about Michelle Obama during his post-fight interview, drawing a mixture of cheers, laughter and boos from the audience.
Criticism came from political figures and sports personalities: Democratic Rep. Melanie Stansbury called the remark “disgusting,” while Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro separately criticized Paramount and CBS for broadcasting it, and the Democratic Party’s X account responded by posting a photograph of Obama.
UFC CEO Dana White called Hokit’s statement false and said he disliked that kind of personal attack. The White House did not directly condemn the remark, and communications director Steven Cheung responded to an inquiry by praising Hokit’s performance without addressing his remarks. Vice President JD Vance later described the public reaction as “totally disproportionate.”
From Fresno State standout to UFC contender
Hokit competed in both football and wrestling at Fresno State. He became a 2-time All-American wrestler while also playing running back and fullback for the Bulldogs. His college performances helped him receive an NFL opportunity despite going undrafted.
The San Francisco 49ers signed Hokit as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons primarily on their practice squad and remained with the organization into the 2022 offseason. The Arizona Cardinals signed him in August 2022 but waived him 5 days later, and he never appeared in a regular-season NFL game.
Hokit subsequently concentrated on mixed martial arts. His wrestling experience became an important part of his fighting style. He currently holds a 10–0 professional record and is ranked No. 4 in the UFC heavyweight division.
Jake Paul turns his sights toward the NFL
Jake Paul has frequently used public challenges to promote his boxing career. During a recent appearance on “The Pivot“, he argued that he possessed the athletic ability to play professional football. He subsequently claimed that no NFL player could last 2 rounds against him in professional boxing.
Paul also claimed that he could catch a touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes without training. He framed the hypothetical play as a 10-yard out route and said Mahomes would deliver an accurate pass. The boast generated disagreement from former NFL players and sports commentators.
Paul later offered to pay an NFL player $1 million if that player could box better than Paul could run routes against him. He said the internet would judge the comparison and offered to send his jet to collect a challenger. The wording did not constitute a complete professional fight contract.
Hokit answers the $1 million callout with confidence
Hokit responded to Paul through X after seeing his claims about NFL players. He said he could defeat Paul in a boxing match. He added that he believed he could also beat Paul in any other sport.
MMA Fighting and other combat-sports outlets subsequently reported the exchange. Paul responded by saying he recognized Hokit’s attempt to promote himself. Paul then challenged him to travel to Puerto Rico and box.
As of August 4, Hokit had not publicly accepted Paul’s invitation. No date, rules, rounds, or financial terms have been announced. It is also unclear whether Paul’s $1 million offer applied to a former NFL practice-squad player like Hokit.
Why Paul mentioned Puerto Rico
Paul lives and trains in Puerto Rico and has maintained a boxing base on the island. His response to Hokit specifically invited the UFC fighter to travel there and box. Paul did not publicly identify a venue, date or complete set of rules.
The exchange did not specify the proposed format. No promoter, broadcaster, or athletic commission has announced involvement. It should not be treated as a confirmed fight agreement.
Online callouts often generate attention without leading to a fight. So far, the Paul-Hokit exchange has remained limited to social media and news coverage. Any claim that it benefits either man remains speculative.
Fun fact: Hokit trains at Jackson Wink MMA Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the longtime home gym of former UFC champion Jon Jones.
Dana White and Paul share a complicated history
Paul and UFC CEO Dana White have publicly criticized one another for years. Before Paul’s 2021 boxing match with Ben Askren, White bet $1 million that Paul would lose. White later said no official wager had been made.
Paul has repeatedly criticized UFC fighter pay. His company, Most Valuable Promotions, has expanded into combat sports. Dana White has consistently rejected Paul’s criticism and promotional efforts.
Hokit remains under UFC contract. There is no public confirmation that he has requested or received permission to box Paul. No formal approval or agreement has been announced.
What a Paul versus Hokit fight could mean
A Paul-Hokit fight would attract attention across combat sports. Paul is an established pay-per-view draw. However, no event has been announced.
A boxing contest could raise Hokit’s profile beyond MMA. However, no purse or agreement has been confirmed. The event would not directly affect his UFC ranking or title path.
For Paul, facing an active UFC heavyweight would create a different promotional angle from several of his previous boxing matches. Its effect on his credibility would depend on the rules, weight, format, and result. At present, discussion of either fighter’s gains or losses remains hypothetical.
Skepticism grows around this crossover boxing idea
No official Paul-Hokit fight has been announced. Public challenges on social media often occur before contracts are discussed. The exchange shows interest but no confirmed negotiations.
A sanctioned fight would require agreements on money, weight, rules, timing, and approvals. Hokit’s UFC contract could also affect the process. No details have been announced publicly.
Little-known fact: Hokit spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons on the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad and never appeared in a regular-season NFL game.
TL;DR
- Josh Hokit faced criticism after making a false and offensive remark about Michelle Obama at UFC Freedom 250.
- Jake Paul offered $1 million to an NFL player who could box better than Paul could run routes against that player.
- Hokit, a former NFL practice-squad player and current UFC heavyweight, responded that he could defeat Paul in boxing.
- Paul invited Hokit to travel to Puerto Rico and box but did not specify whether it would be sparring, an exhibition or a sanctioned bout.
- No official contest, date, rules or financial agreement has been announced.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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