Former Fresno State University wrestler Isaiah Hokit enters Bellator to finally live up to potential

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Things didn’t exactly play out the way Isaiah Hokit expected them to during his collegiate wrestling career at Fresno State University.

After some conflicts with the team’s coaching staff, Hokit (0-0 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) stepped away from the team prior to his final year. With his athletic career over, Hokit thought a desk job would probably be his way of life. Maybe he’d become a teacher or a high school wrestling coach. Ultimately, however, Hokit went in a different direction.

“I didn’t know if I wanted to compete anymore after I kind of felt like I underachieved, you know, for my wrestling career,” Hokit told MMA Junkie on Thursday. “But, you know, after, you know, doing some soul searching and, you know, deciding to face my problems head-on. And I definitely felt like I was, you know, called to fight. So, yeah, I think I think this is destiny in a way. And I think I have all the skills and intangibles to eventually be a world champion.

Through his California connections, Hokit became an integral part of Team Bodyshop’s camp as A.J. McKee needed wrestling training partners ahead of his November fight against Darrion Caldwell. From there, the move to Bellator just made sense.

“(Joining Bodyshop) was a decent measuring stick, kind of to see where I stack up with everybody at the moment, because I’m like thinking at that point, like, ‘Oh, I’m just, you know, I’m going to do the amateur and, you know, just kind of rise to the top and eventually make it to the Bellator or UFC or something,’” Hokit said. “So I end up going with him and Coach Antonio’s (gym is) like base. … One thing led to the next and him, and yeah, Coach Antonio and my manager started talking to Scott Coker and the Bellator people and one thing led to a next and now I’m here.”

First impressions are important. When Hokit steps into the cage at Bellator 261 against Corey Samuels (2-2 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), expects to kick off a run of greatness in mixed martial arts at the professional level.

“You’re going to see a guy who has a lot of natural power (and) a lot of natural ability on his feet,” Hokit said. “You’re probably going to see a little bit of everything. So whether I knock him out or I submit him, I don’t know. I’m kind of just going to take what’s there. Honestly, the mentality is to just go and break this guy. I am not looking for one thing or another. I’m just going to keep coming, like, that’s just my thing.”

Bellator 261 takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card airs on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.