UFC heavyweight Josh Hokit is standing by controversial comments he made following his victory at the Freedom 250 event held on the White House South Lawn, insisting he has no regrets despite criticism from figures across the sports and entertainment worlds, as reported by the New York Post.
Hokit drew national attention Sunday night after making remarks about former First Lady Michelle Obama during his post-fight celebration.
The comments quickly circulated online and became one of the most discussed moments from an event that otherwise generated positive headlines for bringing a major UFC card to the White House grounds.
In the days following the fight, Hokit addressed the controversy in a lengthy Instagram post, where he described himself as both “Strong and Courageous” and indicated that public criticism would not change his approach.
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“Strong and Courageous,” Hokit wrote.
The fighter continued by explaining what he believes has driven his career.
“The only two reasons I joined this sport. If you exercise those every single day and back them up with hard work, the money and success will follow. I’m not here to be liked. I’m not here to be a role model. I don’t care. I’m here to succeed. I’ll do whatever it takes to get where I want to go, and if you don’t like it…Come beat me in a fight.”
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The remarks came after Hokit defeated Derrick Lewis during the White House event. A video that later circulated online appeared to show President Donald Trump removing a chain that Hokit had placed around his neck following the victory celebration.
The incident sparked reactions from several prominent figures connected to combat sports and entertainment.
UFC President Dana White addressed Hokit’s comments and rejected the statement made by the fighter.
White described the remarks as “nasty and false,” while also dismissing them as “nonsense.”
Former UFC contender Derek Brunson also criticized Hokit’s post-fight comments, arguing that they distracted from what had otherwise been a successful event.
“Hokit had to ruin the UFC White House vibes with that goofy comment about Michelle Obama,” Brunson said.
“Super unnecessary SMDH [shaking my damn head].”
Comedian Shane Gillis, who attended the event, similarly expressed disapproval when asked about the controversy afterward.
“I didn’t like that s–t,” Gillis said after the event.
The Freedom 250 card attracted widespread attention because it was staged on White House grounds and featured several high-profile bouts. Organizers and attendees largely viewed the event as a success.
However, Hokit’s remarks became one of the dominant storylines following the competition and generated significant debate across social media platforms.
The controversy also emerged as reports surfaced that federal authorities had disrupted an alleged terrorist plot connected to the event. Multiple outlets reported Tuesday that the FBI thwarted an attack targeting the UFC card.
According to those reports, five individuals were arrested by federal authorities.
Despite the criticism from UFC leadership, fellow fighters and public figures, Hokit’s social media response suggested he does not intend to retract his comments or alter his public approach.
The fighter has continued posting online following the event, while debate over his remarks has remained active among UFC fans and commentators.
For now, the fallout from Hokit’s comments remains one of the most talked-about moments from the Freedom 250 event, overshadowing portions of the action inside the cage and drawing reactions from some of the biggest names associated with the sport.
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