One of the standout matchups in Week 2 of Dana White’s Contender Series features Josh Hokit, a 5-0 professional who combines a football pedigree with a growing MMA résumé. The 27-year-old heavyweight will collide with Guilherme Uriel in Las Vegas at the UFC Apex, with both fighters looking to secure a UFC contract on the weekly show.
Hokit is best known for his college football days at Fresno State, where he played tight end and fullback, before spending time with the San Francisco 49ers in 2020 and 2021 and a brief stint with the Arizona Cardinals in 2022. A Clovis, California, product with a strong amateur wrestling background, Hokit made his pro MMA debut in 2023 and has since racked up multiple wins—including success in Bellator prior to its folding and three victories in Legacy Fighting Alliance. All five of his professional wins have come by stoppage, with three ending in the first round.
Uriel, 28, brings a 6-1 MMA record into the matchup and also hails from the LFA circuit. He is known for finishing his last two opponents within 90 seconds of the opening bell, making this a compelling test for Hokit’s power and pace.
Hokit is part of a contingent of former football players who have appeared on the Contender Series, with Greg Hardy’s name often cited as a notable example. In 2018, Hardy debuted in the DWCS and quickly became a factor in the UFC, illustrating how football athletes can transition to MMA and rise quickly if they adapt their athletic skill sets.
Week 2 on DWCS features six undefeated fighters, including featherweights Tommy Cuozzi (8-0) and Ramiro Jimenez (10-0). Middleweight Brandon Holmes also seeks to go 6-0 as he faces Cam Rowston, while bantamweights Louis Lee Scott (9-0) and Kaushik Saikumar (5-0) are set to compete. The card is headlined by two top lightweight prospects, Manuel Exposito and Jose Mauro Delano.
Weigh-ins highlighted a notable moment as Louis Lee Scott was the only fighter to miss weight. The 25-year-old English fighter initially came in over by about a pound and a half, was given an extra hour to cut down, but ultimately finished at a half-pound over the non-title bantamweight limit. The bout is expected to proceed at a catchweight.
This week’s DWCS lineup underscores the series’ role as a proving ground for multi-sport athletes chasing a path to the UFC, while continuing to deliver crowd-pleasing, action-packed fights that can redefine careers. Watchers can expect a mix of power, speed and technique as these up-and-coming fighters look to seize the opportunity of a lifetime.
Summary: Week 2 of Dana White’s Contender Series features Josh Hokit vs. Guilherme Uriel in a heavyweight showcase, with several other undefeated fighters tipping the scales on a card headlined by Exposito and Delano. The weigh-in highlight was Louis Lee Scott’s catchweight after missing weight, while the event continues to illustrate DWCS as a launchpad for football-to-MMA athletes and other cross-sport talents.
Additional note: If you’d like, I can add a quick preview of each remaining bout on the Week 2 card, including potential contract implications and what each fighter will need to show to earn a UFC deal.