Overview
- Hokit, who improved to 10-0 with a second-round TKO over Derrick Lewis, shouted “Michelle Obama is a man” during his post-fight interview on June 14 and the line drew widespread condemnation.
- On June 23 he told The Ariel Helwani Show he meant the line as a compliment, invoked free speech, and said he will not backtrack from the remark.
- UFC CEO Dana White publicly called the comment “nasty and false” but the promotion has not disciplined Hokit or reported contacting him about the remark.
- Prominent fighters and commentators, including Daniel Cormier and Dricus du Plessis, criticized Hokit for the remark and warned it could harm his reputation and marketability.
- The incident has amplified scrutiny of staging a privately financed, paywalled UFC card on the South Lawn and left reputational and sponsor risks for both the UFC and the White House.