Josh Hokit says he has no regrets about the viral post-fight comment he made about Michelle Obama after stopping Derrick Lewis by TKO at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14.
The bout, held on the South Lawn of the White House as part of an event celebrating President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the U.S., marked what Hokit described as the biggest win of his fighting career.
Asked if he would walk back his words, Hokit responded, “No, I will never,” and later added, “You'll never hear me backtracking from what I say.” He referenced other fighters when explaining his stance: “That's one thing about my career. I think I was watching a (Henry) Cejudo video, and he was like, 'That's one thing I regret. All the stuff I did. Or you hear (Sean) Strickland backtracking in his post-fight speech, where he was like, 'I'm trying to sell the fight, and I don't mean the things I say.' You'll never hear me backtracking from what I say.”
UFC CEO Dana White labeled Hokit's comments “disgusting,” but said he would not take disciplinary action. Hokit said the promotion has not disciplined him or contacted him about the remarks and pointed to the UFC’s approach to speech as a key reason he chose the organization.
“That's why I wanted to fight in the UFC. You have bosses like that. If I would've said that in the NFL, I don't have a job anymore. That's why I respect them so much,” Hokit said, adding that he is “here to make a splash and back up my words.”
