UFC fighter Josh Hokit sparked controversy after his win at the White House when he made a comment about former First Lady Michelle Obama, calling her ‘a man’ in a post-fight interview with Joe Rogan.
Backlash on Social Media
The remark received a mixed response from the crowd gathered on the White House lawn for UFC Freedom 250, the first professional sporting event to be held at the presidential residence. However, it drew widespread backlash on social media, with many condemning Hokit’s comment as disrespectful and inappropriate.
UFC president and CEO Dana White also condemned Hokit’s comment, stating that while he understands the Obamas are public figures, he is against saying nasty and false things about people’s families. White expressed his dislike for such comments, emphasizing his position on free speech while hating the kind of nonsense Hokit uttered.
This is not the first time Hokit has made disparaging remarks about Michelle Obama. In May 2025, before he signed with the UFC, Hokit ended an interview with the same comment after beating Eric Lunsford. Right-wing media outlets have also directed similar gendered insults at the former First Lady.
Hokit has a history of making provocative statements, including calling 10-time All-Star Brittney Griner ‘a man’ during a post-fight speech in January 2026. While White did not love Hokit’s statements on Griner at the time, the UFC fighter was not officially disciplined by the UFC for his comment.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
