Sean Strickland, currently preparing for UFC 328, has publicly addressed Josh Hokit’s flamboyant Octagon antics. Speaking during a media scrum this week, the former middleweight champion, who has trained with Hokit, expressed his disapproval of the heavyweight fighter’s persona.
Hokit, 28, gained significant attention after his decision win over Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327. He has become known for his unconventional press conferences and social media clips, including an appearance dressed as a Mexican gangster. While some find his behavior entertaining and believe it draws crowds, others, like Strickland, view it as “cringe.” After his victory, Hokit even received a commendation from matchmaker Mick Maynard.
Strickland stated that while he respects Hokit personally and considers him a friend, he finds his public persona off-putting. “Dude, you are a grown a** man bro,” Strickland told MMA Fighting. “You are almost 30 years old, and you’re acting like Jake Paul when he was 13. Like, stop bro. You made it; people know who you are. Just stop, you don’t have to go interview homeless people and be f**king weird dude. Just fight now.” Strickland was particularly critical of Hokit’s street interviews with intoxicated individuals, which have circulated widely on social media.
Strickland elaborated on his frustration, saying, “I think the thing I don’t like about Josh, and again, I’ve met Josh and I’ve trained with Josh, he’s actually a really likable guy. He is a really nice guy. I consider him a friend of mine. We’re full of chill on the gram, but it’s like at some point, dude, you are just, it’s such a fabricated image it reminds you of a WWE skit that I just want to die.”
This criticism comes as the fight between Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev for the middleweight belt at UFC 328 on May 9 approaches. The two former gym mates have a history of online exchanges and sparring sessions. Chimaev recently released sparring footage, highlighting striking exchanges. Strickland had previously cautioned Chimaev about being too aggressive during training sessions. Their rivalry has escalated with online threats, and UFC President Dana White has intervened to maintain order, even skipping a face-off to prevent conflict and increasing security measures for the upcoming bout. Strickland is focused on settling the score in their fight.