Dana White condemns Josh Hokit's 'nasty' Michelle Obama remarks at UFC Freedom 250 on White House lawn
· Yahoo Sports
Josh Hokit gave the world the full Josh Hokit experience Sunday on the White House’s South Lawn. Both during the fight and afterward.
Hokit (10-0), a rising UFC heavyweight contender, kept his undefeated record intact with a pillar to post second-round stoppage of Derrick Lewis on the UFC Freedom 250 card. The win continued the former football standout’s sudden rise following his breakthrough performance against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 in April.
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But Hokit’s in-cage skills are only part of his package. The controversial American’s public persona has become somewhat of a sideshow for the UFC, with Hokit veering into different oddball characters during his interviews and breaking out x-rated Seussian rhyming couplets at press conferences and after fights, all while seemingly embracing the mantra that all attention is good attention.
Hokit took that mantra a step further on Sunday night, ending his post-fight interview on the doorstep of the nation’s capital by insulting a former first lady of the United States — and a former political rival of U.S. President Donald Trump, who was seated cageside.
Declared Hokit:
“Lastly, Michele Obama is a man! Am I right, America?”
Hokit’s remarks appeared to fall flat in the moment and went unacknowledged but UFC CEO Dana White at the event’s post-fight press conference, however White ultimately condemned them late Sunday night in a conversation with Time Magazine:
“I understand that the Obama’s are public figures but I’m completely against saying nasty and false things about people’s families. Everyone knows my position on free speech but I hate that kind of nonsense.”
Hokit is not expected to be punished by the UFC for his remarks, though he was left out of the event’s post-fight bonus rollout, which ultimately went to new lightweight champion Justin Gaethje (2x), Ilia Topuria, and new interim heavyweight champ Ciryl Gane.