Dana White says the UFC will be better prepared for fight-week fireworks after Josh Hokit’s latest run of altercations nearly derailed a UFC White House press conference ahead of UFC 328.
The event saw Hokit insult Alex Pereira before Ilia Topuria intervened, an exchange that ended with Topuria throwing an object at Hokit as security rushed in and removed Hokit from the stage. White later addressed the chaos at the UFC 328 post-fight press conference, making it clear he wants to avoid unnecessary damage.
"I don’t want any of these guys getting hurt over stupid shit that means nothing with guys that are never going to fight each other," White said. "It’s not like Ilia Topuria and Hokit are going to end up fighting."
White also weighed in on Hokit's antics and rapid rise following his UFC 327 win over Curtis Blaydes, which earned him a top-10 spot in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings and a clash with Derrick Lewis at June’s UFC White House card. "I think that whole thing [Hokit does] is goofy anyway but the guy went out and performed. An unranked guy went in and beat the No. 5 guy in the world."
The UFC boss noted that "Ilia and Alex are pretty chill guys normally," but admitted Topuria can boil over. He recalled the moment at the press conference: "Ilia flips out every now and then. We didn’t see that coming. They’re all sitting next to each other in the same row. [Sean] O’Malley scoots back, and I’m just like ‘you’ve got to be f*cking kidding me right now.’"
White referenced a previous incident where Khamzat Chimaev kicked Sean Strickland during a faceoff and said the promotion will adjust. "Because all I was worried about was the weigh-ins and not anything happening there [between Khamzat Chimaev and Strickland]. But we’ll be ready for it. This is the business we’re in."
All parties are slated to be back on stage together at a pre-fight press conference in Washington, D.C., on Friday, June 12, ahead of the June 14 card.
