WASHINGTON — The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s controversial event on the South Lawn of the White House was going smoothly, with each of the first five fights ending in knockout.
Then heavyweight Josh Hokit stepped in the cage and set social media and the news cycle ablaze, serving as a reminder of why there was such strong opposition to the event in the first place.
After stopping Derrick Lewis to remain undefeated in his 10-fight pro career, the former Fresno State football player took the microphone and offered praise to President Donald Trump, who sat cageside with his wife, Melania, and UFC president and CEO Dana White.
Hokit finished off his speech by making a claim about a former first lady just steps away from the residence she occupied for eight years.
“Michelle Obama is a man,” Hokit screamed into the microphone.
The reaction was relatively mixed in the venue with many attendees in the 4,300-seat venue looking around in momentary shock.
It’s not the first time Hokit has made a similar post-fight assertion about a female in the spotlight.
The 28-year-old referred to WNBA star Brittney Griner in a similar manner after his January victory at UFC 324 at T-Mobile Arena.
White said after UFC 324 he had not seen Hokit make the comment, but did not approve of the message.
“I heard about it,” he said. “I didn’t see it. I don’t love it.”
The UFC famously has a policy against punishing speech from its fighters.
Hokit, who is a rising star in the UFC, spent some time on the offseason and practice squad rosters of the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals after his Mountain West Conference football career.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.
