Josh Hokit has emerged as the standout fighter following his unanimous decision victory over Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327. He is currently being hailed as the breakout fighter of the year in 2026.
Key points
Josh Hokit won against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327
Hokit is the breakout fighter of the year for 2026
Carlos Ulberg became the light heavyweight champion
Cub Swanson had a retirement fight
UFC 327 took place at the Kaseya Center in Miami
Josh HokitCurtis BlaydesUFC 327Carlos Ulberg
MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 11: Josh Hokit of the United States looks on after his victory via unanimous decision over Curtis Blaydes of the United States, not pictured, in a heavyweight bout during UFC 327 at the Kaseya Center on April 11, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 11: Josh Hokit of the United States looks on after his victory via unanimous decision over Curtis Blaydes of the United States, not pictured, in a heavyweight bout during UFC 327 at the Kaseya Center on April 11, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the ever-shifting MMA landscape, ranking the worldâs greatest fighters might seem like a foolâs errand, but thatâs exactly what weâve set out to do with the MMA Fighting Global Rankings. Here, our esteemed panel sorts out the movers and shakers from every division to provide you with the most definitive list of the best fighters on the planet.
Josh Hokit is 2026âs breakout fighter of the year and itâs not even May.
Hyperbole? Maybe. But itâs not a stretch at all to say Hokit is the most talked-about fighter after UFC 327, even with Carlos Ulberg overcoming an injury to knock out Jiri Prochazka and become light heavyweight champion, Paulo Costa deciding heâs going to become a contender in a second division just for kicks (pun intended), and Cub Swanson having a feel-good retirement fight.
Hokit drew all kinds of attention to himself during fight week, good and bad (the over-the-top promos arenât awful, but I could have done without the racist character and jokes, myself), and when the lights were shining brightest, he delivered in a big way. Eight months after being signed off of Dana Whiteâs Contender Series, Hokit found himself in the cage with perennial top 10 contender Curtis Blaydes and he did not back down for a single second.
The bell rang and Hokit just rushed Blaydes, kicking off a 15-minute back-and-forth battle in which it looked like either fighter could land a knockout flurryâor collapse flat on their faceâat any second. And then Hokit won! And got $200,000 in bonus money! Best night ever?
Q&A
What did Josh Hokit achieve at UFC 327?
Josh Hokit won his fight against Curtis Blaydes via unanimous decision at UFC 327.
Why is Josh Hokit considered the breakout fighter of the year in 2026?
Hokit is recognized as the breakout fighter of the year due to his impressive performance and significant attention following UFC 327.
Who did Josh Hokit fight at UFC 327?
Josh Hokit fought Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327.
What other notable events occurred during UFC 327?
At UFC 327, Carlos Ulberg won the light heavyweight title, and Cub Swanson had a retirement fight.
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At 28, Hokit is the definition of fresh blood in a division sorely in need of it. He bursts into the MMA Fighting Global Rankings at No. 7 and already has his next fight booked thanks to a suggestion from President Donald Trump. Hokit is a plus-plus athlete compared to other heavyweights, is uncompromising with how he presents himself (again, mileage may vary), and now gets to face fan favorite Derrick Lewis at the freaking White House in June.
As the man himself would probably put it, what are you going to do when Hokitmania runs wild on you, brother?
Check out the latest edition of the MMA Fighting Global Rankings below.
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 2 Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins (MVP MMA: Rousey vs. Carano, May 16), No. 3 Ciryl Gane vs. No. 1 LHW Alex Pereira, No. 4 Alexander Volkov vs. No. 6 Waldo Cortes-Acosta (UFC 328, May 9), No. 5 Sergei Pavlovich vs. Tallison Teixeira (UFC Macau, May 30), No. 7 Josh Hokit vs. No. 15 Derrick Lewis (UFC White House, June 14), No. 10 Phil De Fries vs. Marcin Wojcik (KSW 117, April 18)
Fighters also receiving votes (number of ballot appearances shown): Valter Walker (5)
Falling out of the rankings: No. 13 Marcin Tybura, No. 15 Reug Reug
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT
Recent results for ranked fighters (previous ranking shown): No. 4 Carlos Ulberg def. No. 3 Jiri Prochazka, No. 14 MW Paulo Costa def. No. 8 Azamat Murzakanov, No. 9 Dominick Reyes def. No. 15 Johnny Walker, No. 14 Nikita Krylov def. Modestas Bukauskas
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 1 Alex Pereira vs. No. 3 HW Ciryl Gane (heavyweight bout), No. 6 Jan Blachowicz vs. No. 12 Bogdan Guskov (UFC 328, May 9)
Fighters also receiving votes (number of ballot appearances shown): Modestas Bukauskas (2), Johnny Walker (1)
Falling out of the rankings: No. 15 Johnny Walker
MIDDLEWEIGHT
Recent results for ranked fighters (previous ranking shown): No. 14 Paulo Costa def. No. 8 LHW Azamat Murzakanov (light heavyweight bout)
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 1 Khamzat Chimaev vs. No. 3 Sean Strickland (UFC 328, May 9), No. 7 Brendan Allen vs. Edmen Shahbazyan (UFC Vegas 118, June 6)
Fighters also receiving votes (number of ballot appearances shown): Shara Bullet (1)
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 2 Jack Della Maddalena vs. No. 7 Carlos Prates (UFC Perth, May 2), No. 6 Belal Muhammad vs. No. 15 Gabriel Bonfim (UFC Vegas 118, June 6), No. 8 Sean Brady vs. No. 11 Joaquin Buckley (UFC 328, May 9), No. 14 Yaroslav Amosov vs. Joel Alvarez (UFC 328, May 9)
Fighters also receiving votes (number of ballot appearances shown): Jason Jackson (2), Geoff Neal (2)
Falling out of the rankings: No. 12 Ramazan Kuramagomedov (retired), No. 14 Geoff Neal
LIGHTWEIGHT
Recent results for ranked fighters (previous ranking shown): No. 3 Charles Oliveira def. No. 4 Max Holloway, No. 9 Mateusz Gamrot def. Esteban Ribovics, No. 15 Renato Moicano def. Chris Duncan
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 1 Ilia Topuria vs. No. 5 Justin Gaethje (UFC White House, June 14), No. 10 Mauricio Ruffy vs. Michael Chandler, No. 13 Beneil Dariush vs. Quillan Salkilld
Fighters also receiving votes (number of ballot appearances shown): Fares Ziam (2)
FEATHERWEIGHT
Recent results for ranked fighters (previous ranking shown): No. 1 Alexander Volkanovski def. No. 3 Diego Lopes, No. 2 Movsar Evloev def. No. 6 Lerone Murphy, No. 8 Jean Silva def. No. 7 Arnold Allen, No. 15 Aaron Pico def. No. 10 Patricio Pitbull, Kevin Vallejos def. No. 12 Josh Emmett, No. 14 Razhabali Shaidulloev def. Yuta Kubo
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 3 Diego Lopes vs. No. 11 Steve Garcia (UFC White House, June 14), No. 4 Aljamain Sterling vs. No. 9 Youssef Zalal (UFC Vegas 116, April 25), No. 8 Arnold Allen vs. No. 13 Melquizael Costa (UFC Vegas 117, May 16)
Fighters also receiving votes (number of ballot appearances shown): Josh Emmett (1), Movlid Khaybulaev (1), A.J. McKee (1), Pat Sabatini (1)
Falling out of the rankings: No. 11 Brian Ortega, No. 12 Josh Emmett
BANTAMWEIGHT
Recent results for ranked fighters (previous ranking shown): No. 3 Umar Nurmagomedov def. No. 7 Deiveson Figueiredo, No. 5 Sean OâMalley def. No. 8 Song Yadong, No. 6 Mario Bautista def. No. 14 Vinicius Oliveira, Mitch McKee def. No. 10 Sergio Pettis, No. 12 David Martinez def. No. 11 Marlon Vera
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 5 Sean OâMalley vs. No. 8 Aiemann Zahabi (UFC White House, June 14), No. 7 Song Yadong vs. No. 9 Deiveson Figueiredo (UFC Macau, May 30), No. 15 Magomed Magomedov vs. Leandro Higo (PFL Sioux Falls, May 2)
Fighters also receiving votes (number of ballot appearances shown): Raoni Barcelos (2), Farid Basharat (2), Marcus McGhee (2), Vinicius Oliveira (2), Raufeon Stots (1)
Falling out of the rankings: No. 14 Vinicius Oliveira
FLYWEIGHT
Recent results for ranked fighters (previous ranking shown): No. 15 Charles Johnson def. Bruno Silva
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 2 Joshua Van vs. No. 5 Tatsuro Taira (UFC 328, May 9), No. 3 Kyoji Horiguchi vs. Manel Kape (UFC Vegas 119, June 20), No. 7 Muhammad Mokaev vs. Adriano Moraes (MVP MMA: Rousey vs. Carano, May 16), No. 11 Asu Almabayev vs. No. 15 Charles Johnson (UFC Baku, June 27), No. 13 Alex Perez vs. Sumudaerji (UFC Macau, May 30), No. 14 Steve Erceg vs. Tim Elliott (UFC Perth, May 2)
Fighters also receiving votes (number of ballot appearances shown): Tim Elliott (2), Yuya Wakamatsu (2), Tagir Ulanbekov (1)
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 10 Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. No. 15 Karine Silva (UFC Winnipeg, April 18), No. 11 Taila Santos vs. Yan Qihui (PFL Sioux Falls, May 2)
Upcoming bouts featuring ranked fighters: No. 15 Angela Hill vs. Xiong Jingnan (UFC Macau, May 30)
Fighters also receiving votes (number of ballot appearances shown): Denise Gomes (3), Loma Lookboonmee (2)
Falling out of the rankings: No. 15 Denise Gomes
A refresher on the ground rules:
The five-person voting panel consists of MMA Fighting staffers Alexander K. Lee, Guilherme Cruz, Mike Heck, Damon Martin, and Jed Meshew.
Fighters will be removed from the rankings if they do not compete within 18 months of their most recent bout in a given weight class. Updates to the rankings are typically completed following each monthâs UFC pay-per-view.
Should a fighter announce their retirement, our panel will decide whether that fighter should immediately be removed from the rankings or maintain their position until further notice. (Letâs put it this way: Weâd have taken Khabib Nurmagomedov out of our rankings a lot quicker than the UFC did.)
Holding a promotionâs title does not guarantee that fighter will be viewed as the best in their promotion. Additionally, fighters who regularly compete or hold titles in multiple weight classes are eligible to be ranked in multiple lists.
Thoughts? Questions? Concerns? Make your voice heard in the comments below.