UFC fighter Josh Hokit ensured he would not go a night without controversy as he yelled “Michelle Obama is a man” after winning his bout at the White House.
Hokit knocked out Derrick Lewis in the third round of their heavyweight clash at the extraordinary UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn, staying undefeated after his polarising antics dominated the headlines in the week leading up.
But it was his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan that will go down in infamy as he addressed US president Donald Trump from the cage, who was sitting in the front row.
He said: “I’m the man with the plan, the beast that’s ready to feast.
“You know what? F*** the speech. Shoutout to Trump for having the balls to put some s*** like this on.
“And if I’m gonna say anything, there’s only one person more incredible than the ‘Incredible Hok’, and that’s my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.”
He then called out Alex Pereira, who was due to fight Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight championship in the co-main event, before saying: “Michelle Obama is a man, am I right America?”
Hokit had given Trump his chain during the celebrations of his win over Lewis, though the president took this off after the comment on Obama.
Hokit has made a name for himself in recent months by playing different characters, something that has dominated fight week. At Friday’s press conference, he continually referenced “The Incredible Hok”, while he spoke nervously about all of the fighters at the event.
There, his behaviour culminated in him referencing the recent divorce of main-event fighter Ilia Topuria, with UFC president Dana White immediately ending the press conference after that insult.
Then at Saturday’s weigh-ins, Hokit seemingly pretended to throw up as he dribbled a sick-coloured liquid from his mouth, claiming he had been drinking the previous night.
Hokit previously had to be escorted off stage by security at the launch press conference for UFC Freedom 250 in May after insulting Topuria, as well as fellow headliner Pereira.
While a polarising personality, Hokit remains a force at heavyweight as he took his record to 10-0 with victory over former title challenger Lewis.
