UFC heavyweight contender Josh Hokit has offered an explanation for his controversial remarks directed at former First Lady Michelle Obama following his recent victory at the White House, framing his actions as a deliberate strategy to boost his profile and earnings within the sport.

Earlier this month, the 28-year-old former NFL player secured his 10th professional career win, stopping Derrick Lewis in the second round. However, the post-fight interview quickly veered into controversy when Hokit declared, “Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?” Veteran broadcaster Joe Rogan swiftly concluded the interview, and the comments drew immediate criticism, notably from UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier, who branded the slur “disgusting.”

A “compliment” and freedom of speech

Speaking on a recent edition of the Ariel Helwani Show, Hokit, who is known for his outlandish, tongue-in-cheek statements, attempted to clarify his intentions. He suggested his remarks were misinterpreted, stating, “I thought I was giving her a compliment. I don’t think anyone viewed it as Michelle Obama being a man. It’s more like she knows how to deal with adversity, she knows how to work hard like a man when times get tough.”

Hokit also positioned his comments as an exercise in free speech, particularly given the high-profile setting. “It was a perfect opportunity to show the world how great this country is with freedom of speech… In other parts of the world, you say something like that and you die,” he added, emphasizing his refusal to retract his statements. “That’s one thing about my career… You’ll never hear me backtrack from what I say.”

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The numbers game and UFC’s stance

Beyond the immediate explanation, Hokit openly admitted that the controversy was a calculated move to generate attention and financial reward. “Don’t hate the player, hate the game, and that’s the game we’re playing nowadays. We’re playing a numbers game, and I’m gonna win them every single time. Whatever brings the most eyes to my fight, that’s what I’m going to do,” he asserted.

According to GIVEMESPORT, Hokit claims this strategy has already paid dividends. He estimates significant financial gains since joining the UFC, stating, “If anything, I’ve gained more money… I’ll coach a class on this one day, but I got seven figures in seven months, just put it like that. By the end of the year, this might be a $3 to 4 million dollars a year.”

Despite the widespread backlash, UFC CEO Dana White has confirmed that Hokit will not face any punishment from the promotion for his actions. Hokit corroborated this, noting that the UFC has not contacted him to complain. “They would message me if they really felt a certain way. They can always feel some type of way. I respect their opinions, but we do have freedom of speech, so it is what it is. I don’t like what other people say, but I’ve got to deal with it.”

With the controversy seemingly behind him and his profile elevated, Hokit is now looking towards his next challenge, with Brazilian superstar Alex Pereira mentioned as a possible future opponent.

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