Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.
Already a member?
Log in
UFC heavyweight contender Josh Hokit maintains he has no regrets over using the White House as a platform for an extraordinary and unfounded attack based on a right-wing conspiracy theory targeting former first lady Michelle Obama.
Hokit made his vulgar remarks inside the octagon in June after winning his bout during a UFC card celebrating President Donald Trump‘s 80th birthday held on the South Lawn of the White House, taking the microphone before stating: “Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?”
He returns to action for the first time since then on Saturday when he challenges heavyweight champion Cyril Gane in the headline event of UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden.
Inside a New York hotel on Wednesday, Hokit delivered another round of crude insults at fellow fighters before taking questions about his upcoming title match and his comments concerning Obama.
“I’ll never look back and be like, I regret that,” Hokit said.
Wearing a black stocking cap over an American flag bandana, sunglasses and fight gloves, Hokit stated he “took the rap of a villain” before breaking into what he termed a freestyle rap to demonstrate his lack of regret.
Hokit admitted he was “sure it wasn’t” the correct thing to do in attacking the former first lady, but expressed pride that the comments earned him posts on Trump’s Truth Social, including a cartoon alongside UFC chief Dana White in the White House briefing room.
Trump stated on Saturday that he offered White the post of White House press secretary, though he later clarified he was joking.
“I’m here to take what’s mine,” Hokit said. “If I’ve got to rub some people the wrong way, if I’ve got to say some (stuff) in the wrong location, it is what it is. Was it not a good location to say it? I mean, we’re at the White House. That house represents freedom of speech. So it is what it is. I think it was the perfect location to say it.”
The 28-year-old Hokit remains undefeated at 10-0 in his MMA career, having won all six fights since joining UFC in 2025.
