Cody East Credits Josh Hokit Sparring Before BKB Biloxi

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Cody "Freight Train" East says sparring sessions with UFC title challenger Josh Hokit helped sharpen him for his bare-knuckle bout against Ike Villanueva at BKB Bally's Fightnight in Biloxi, Mississippi.

East, a 38-year-old veteran out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, will compete at 225 pounds against Villanueva in a matchup East expects to end before the final bell. "I can knock him out. My goal is to stop him. We're two big boys fighting bare-knuckle. I don't see it going five rounds," East said. He credited Villanueva as tough and experienced, but pointed to moments in the past where he felt the former shootfighter looked for a way out under pressure.

How Josh Hokit factored into East's camp

East split training time with Hokit, trading MMA work for help with bare-knuckle rounds. "I was fortunate enough to get a lot of work in with Josh Hokit. He's getting ready for his title fight in the UFC. I'd help him with some MMA rounds, and then he'd help me with some bare-knuckle rounds," East said. The bare-knuckle sessions did not involve striking with exposed knuckles, but focused on the rules and rhythms of the format, including clinch work and striking without the threat of takedowns, which East said sharpened him for the pressure he expects from Villanueva.

East trains out of Jackson Wink MMA under longtime coach Mike Winklejohn, and said a new strength and conditioning program at Forge Fitness has transformed his camp. He said his weight cut this time required dropping only about eight pounds over fight weight, compared to nearly 30 pounds before a previous bout. He credited the lighter cut with leaving him stronger, more flexible and better conditioned heading into fight week.

Why East sees bare-knuckle as a better fit

East said the compact format of BKB's Trigon and the three-minute rounds suit his style better than the grappling-heavy demands of MMA. "There's nowhere to run. It's good to fight. It's straight to action. I enjoy that. I don't have to wrestle nobody. I don't have to be on the floor. I can let my hands go and not worry about holding back," he said. He also acknowledged the added risk of fighting without gloves, noting he has broken his hand before and that bare-knuckle boxing demands more precision than traditional boxing. "You can't afford to punch somebody in the head. You've got to hit them in the eyes, nose, lips, chin. You've got to be accurate with your punches. You can't just throw stuff," he said.

Betting Angle

East's finishing instincts and improved conditioning make him an appealing play for bettors who like fighters who close rounds strong rather than coast to a decision. His own comments about Villanueva's past tendency to look for an exit under pressure suggest East and his camp view a stoppage prop, if books offer one, as live. Fighters who typically grind through deep weight cuts and walk into a fight fresher often hold up better in the championship rounds of five-round bare-knuckle bouts, which could matter if the fight does go longer than East expects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Cody East fighting at BKB Biloxi?

Cody "Freight Train" East is facing Ike Villanueva at BKB Bally's Fightnight in Biloxi, Mississippi, at 225 pounds.

How did Josh Hokit help Cody East prepare for his bare-knuckle fight?

Cody East traded training rounds with UFC title challenger Josh Hokit, helping Hokit with MMA rounds while Hokit helped East work on bare-knuckle rounds focused on clinch fighting and striking without takedowns.