Cooper Albers previews Josh Hokit vs. Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House.
The UFC’s highly anticipated White House card will look a little different on Sunday than it did when it was first announced. In a late addition to the lineup, the promotion booked a heavyweight clash of generations between controversial undefeated prospect Josh Hokit and all-time knockout king Derrick Lewis.
Hokit (9–0, 3–0 UFC) is riding high after coming out on top of a Fight of the Year contender against Curtis Blaydes in April, besting the former title challenger in a thrilling unanimous decision (29–28, 3x). Lewis (29–13, 20–11 UFC) looks to rebound from January’s second-round TKO loss to Waldo Cortes-Acosta.
Hokit enters as a strong -410 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Lewis is a +320 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 1.5 rounds.
UFC’s most polarizing breakout star is back in action, already for the third time in 2026. The undefeated prospect, 28, has rocketed up the heavyweight ladder since his Octagon debut in November 2025 — cementing his trajectory in April by prevailing in a good old-fashioned slugfest with Curtis Blaydes. That same night, Dana White carved out a spot for “The Incredible Hok” on UFC Freedom 250.
While the boisterous contender is as divisive as they come, he leaves little room for debate once the cage door closes. Before taking on Blaydes, the former NFL fullback and two-time All-American wrestler boasted a 100% finish rate, comprising five knockouts and three submissions. Hokit’s first two trips to the Octagon yielded first-round finishes: he stopped Max Gimenis in under a minute before scoring a last-second TKO against Denzel Freeman.
Fan-favorite heavyweight Derrick Lewis loves adding to his highlight reel. The future Hall of Famer owns the UFC record with 16 knockouts inside the Octagon (24 overall), and each of his last six wins has come by KO or TKO. “The Black Beast” doesn’t care much for grappling and is always one shot away from ending someone’s night.
However, Lewis has faded significantly in the twilight of his career. Now 41, he’s dropped six of his last 10 bouts dating back to his title shot against Ciryl Gane in August 2021. Lewis coming off a truly woeful performance against Waldo Cortes-Acosta in January, getting dropped by a feathery jab in the second round and rolling over for a boo-inducing TKO loss — his eighth career defeat by KO or TKO.
Say what you will about Hokit, but he has injected new life into a largely dormant heavyweight division. His win over Blaydes proved that he can stand and bang with the best of them, and his full-throttle approach gives him a clear advantage over the dwindling Lewis. Expect the former NFL player to blitz the heavyweight icon, giving him a taste of his own medicine on the South Lawn of the White House.
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