Josh Hokit says modern MMA fighters lack personalities: “They’re trying to hold onto their image”

Josh Hokit has garnered attention with his polarizing pre-fight antics, but it’s something he feels had been missing in MMA.

Hokit turned some heads during media week for UFC 327. Ahead of his heavyweight tilt with Curtis Blaydes, Hokit dressed up as a Mexican gangster and cut some bizarre promos on the mic. He even tried ruffling the feathers of headliners Carlos Ulberg and Jiri Prochazka.

Ultimately, Hokit defeated Blaydes in an entertaining scrap and his stock is now higher than ever. Appearing on the “Smash Cast,” Hokit said his style of pre-fight shenanigans has been sorely missed (via MMAFighting).

“The sad part is, all these fighters — that’s the thing with the day and age that we live in. Back then, you had wild men. And so you had all these personalities, everyone is going crazy, everyone is more interesting. Now, it’s like these real athletes. They’re really holding onto their image, like, ‘How can I be cool?’

“So, Carlos Ulberg, when I see him, it’s like he’s carrying the weight of looking cool and being this cool guy, where now, ‘The Down Vato,’ he just doesn’t care. That’s where I’m from.”

Hokit even took UFC officials to task for trying to police what the fighters do.

“These people take their jobs so serious,” Hokit said. “It’s like, no wonder the fighters act like this. It’s like, [puts on serious tone], ‘You need to go out there, and say the right answer, and respect your opponent, and be just a professional. And act like you’re not about to get in this cage.’”

Hokit already has his next fight lined up. He will collide with Derrick Lewis on the UFC Freedom 250 card on June 14.

Do you enjoy Josh Hokit’s antics, or are you not a big fan of the spectacle? Voice your opinion in the comments below.