Jamahal Hill targets Josh Hokit after heavyweight move: “I actually think he’s funny”
Jamahal Hill has made his next move clear as the former UFC light heavyweight champion says he is heading to heavyweight, and he wants Josh Hokit for his first fight in the division. In the same stretch of interviews, Hill also named Sergei Pavlovich as the fallback option and ruled out Curtis Blaydes and Serghei Spivac because of his relationships with both men.
Jamahal Hill names Josh Hokit for first heavyweight fight
Hill publicly announced that he is moving up to heavyweight after spending months adding weight and muscle for the change. In a June 17 video from his “What You Think” podcast, he said he believes a run at heavyweight carries more value for his legacy than trying to reclaim the light heavyweight belt, adding that becoming a two-division champion sounds better to him than becoming a two-time champion at 205.
Hill said he wants to return in 2026 if possible, with Madison Square Garden high on his list, and said an early 2027 return would be the backup if nothing comes together by year’s end.
Hill did not frame the Hokit callout as random name-chasing. He said on his podcast that Hokit is “100%” the fight he wants for his heavyweight debut, then added, “Former UFC champion. Come on, come get some.”
He gave a calmer explanation in a separate interview clip with Helen Yee Sports, where he said, “It would be a beneficial fight for both of us. I actually think he’s funny. I just see a dude trying to eat.” Hill is not selling this as personal hatred as much as a fight that fits both sides in terms of attention and timing.
That matchup also makes sense in the current news cycle. Hokit has become one of the more discussed names in the division after his White House event win, where his post-fight comments about Michelle Obama and his celebration drove a strong reaction online. He entered that event with momentum as a rising heavyweight, and earlier reporting had him tied to major fights with names like Curtis Blaydes and Derrick Lewis as the UFC tested how high he could climb.
Hill has not limited himself to one option. A recent report tied to his comments says that if the Hokit fight does not happen, he wants Pavlovich next. Just as important is who he does not want. Hill said he would not want to fight Spivac because “Spivac is my guy,” and said Blaydes is “like a brother” to him, which effectively removes two established heavyweight names from his wishlist.
Pavlovich, by contrast, fits the type of high-risk name Hill seems willing to accept. Pavlovich owns one of the division’s strongest knockout runs in recent years and stopped Blaydes in the first round during his 2023 surge, which gives Hill a serious measuring-stick option if Hokit is unavailable.
Hokit brings heat, talk, and a fresh headline; Hill brings name value, championship history, and a real test for whether his power and timing carry to heavyweight.
