Chael Sonnen is making a bold call on the future of the UFC heavyweight division, predicting that undefeated contender Josh Hokit will be wearing gold within the next two years.
Sonnen has publicly stated that Hokit, currently 9-0 in MMA and 3-0 in the UFC, will capture the UFC heavyweight title by the end of 2026. Hokit stayed unbeaten earlier this month with a win over perennial contender Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327, a performance that earned him two bonuses.
"At the end of 2026, Josh Hokit will be the UFC heavyweight champion," Sonnen said, before laying out his view of a complicated title picture involving current interim champion Tom Aspinall and Alex Pereira. "Now, how do we get there? It's very unclear right now if Tom (Aspinall) is going to fight or not. I am a Tom supporter. I only know what I'm told. Tom is now paying Eddie Hearn for his advice. Tom wants Eddie's advice and he values his advice so much that he's willing to pay for it."
Sonnen added: "Eddie's advice, publicly to Tom, is: Don't fight. That is a tremendous problem. ... So what is Tom going to do? If I'm putting the belt, by the end of the year, around Hokit, I understand that Tom holds it and Alex Pereira is going to have the first crack at that. It's an interesting spot for how do we even get the matches done. But if we do in fact, get the matches done, 'Hokster' is going to be the heavyweight champion."
Before any title talk can materialize, Hokit is set for another test. He is scheduled to face former title challenger Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 at the White House in Washington.
