A “bizarre” and “once-in-a-lifetime” UFC event held on the iconic Front Lawn of the White House on Sunday night, celebrating President Donald Trump’s birthday, has been overshadowed by a controversial comment made by fighter Josh Hokit.
Following his victory over Derrick Little, 28-year-old Hokit concluded his post-fight interview with a vile slur aimed at former First Lady Michelle Obama. “Lastly, Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?” Hokit stated, after which President Trump reportedly appeared to embrace the fighter.
The comment quickly drew widespread condemnation, prompting UFC President Dana White to address the issue. Speaking to TIME, White expressed his strong disapproval of Hokit’s remarks, despite his known stance on free speech.
White condemns “nonsense”
“I understand that the Obamas are public figures, but I’m completely against saying nasty and false things about people’s families,” White told TIME. “Everyone knows my position on free speech, but I hate that kind of nonsense.”
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The incident has largely diverted attention from the fights themselves, which included several significant matchups. Ilia Topuria, who had maintained an undefeated record and held the lightweight championship, suffered a defeat at the hands of 37-year-old Justin Gaethje. Gaethje forced Topuria to quit on his stool before the fifth and final round.
In the heavyweight division, Alex Pereira’s debut in the weight class ended in a loss to former champion Ciryl Gane, who secured the interim championship. The event also saw notable attendees, including boxing heavyweight Tyson Fury, whose presence was particularly noteworthy given previous reports suggesting a US travel ban. Fury had been in Manchester the night before, cheering on his brother Tommy in a fight against Eddie Hall.
Another fighter, Sean Strickland, was escorted away from the event, though Dana White later clarified that Strickland had not been officially invited. Despite initial doubts about the possibility of hosting such an event, the White House spectacle was largely deemed a success, albeit one now defined by Hokit’s inflammatory statement.
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