Josh Hokit has no intention of apologising for the remarks about former first lady
Michelle Obama that drew widespread condemnation after his victory at the White House earlier this year.
asserted
that → have → House
The undefeated heavyweight has instead defended his decision to make the comments, insisting that the setting was appropriate and that the controversy helped establish his public profile ahead of his first UFC championship opportunity.
asserted
controversy → defend → opportunity
Josh Hokit doubles down on Michelle Obama remarks ahead of UFC 334
Hokit reiterated his position during a media appearance at a New York hotel on Wednesday, November 11, two days before he challenges Ciryl Gane for the UFC heavyweight championship in the main event of UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden.
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he → double → Garden
Asked whether he regretted his comments about Obama, the 28-year-old was unequivocal.
asserted
old → ask → Obama
“I'll never look back and be like, I regret that,” Hokit said.
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Hokit → look → that
The heavyweight, who wore a black stocking cap over an American flag bandana, sunglasses and fight gloves, acknowledged that insulting the former first lady was not the right thing to do.
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insulting → wear → lady
However, he said he was proud that the controversy had brought him attention, including appearances in posts shared by US President
Donald Trump on Truth Social.
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controversy → say → Social
Hokit described himself as having “took the rap of a villain” before launching into what he called a freestyle rap to reinforce his position.
asserted
he → describe → position
He also defended making the remarks at the White House, arguing that the location represented freedom of speech.
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location → defend → speech
“I'm here to take what's mine,” Hokit said.
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Hokit → take → ?
“If I've got to rub some people the wrong way, if I've got to say some (stuff) in the wrong location, it is what it is.
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it → get → location
Was it not a good location to say it?
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it → say → it
I mean, we're at the White House.
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we → mean → House
That house represents freedom of speech.
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house → represent → speech
I think it was the perfect location to say it.”
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it → think → it
His comments came after he again directed a series of crude insults at other fighters on the UFC 334 card during Wednesday's appearance.
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he → come → appearance
What Josh Hokit said about Michelle Obama at the White House
The controversy began on June 14, 2026, when Hokit used his Octagon interview with Joe Rogan to repeat an unfounded conspiracy theory targeting Michelle Obama.
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Hokit → say → Obama
Following his TKO victory over Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250, an event held on the White House South Lawn to mark Trump's 80th birthday, Hokit declared: “Michelle Obama is a man, am I right, America?”
asserted
I → follow → birthday
The remark prompted criticism from across the political and sporting worlds.
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remark → prompt → worlds
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham called Hokit an “idiot”, arguing that the comments detracted from the celebratory atmosphere of the event.
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comments → call → event
Democratic lawmakers and former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III were also among those who condemned the attack.
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who → condemn → attack
Trump subsequently shared posts featuring Hokit on Truth Social.
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Trump → share → Social
One depicted the heavyweight in cartoon form alongside UFC chief Dana White inside the White House briefing room, giving the fighter further visibility as the controversy continued.
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controversy → depict → visibility
White, however, made clear that he did not endorse Hokit's remarks.
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endorse → make → remarks
The UFC chief described them as “nasty”, “false” and “gross”, stressing that the fighter's views did not represent the organisation.
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views → describe → organisation
White also acknowledged that he had given Hokit difficult opponents during his progression through the heavyweight rankings because he disliked “anything Josh Hokit says”.
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Hokit → acknowledge → anything
Josh Hokit puts undefeated record on the line against
asserted
Hokit → put → line
Ciryl Gane
Hokit's remarks have returned to the spotlight as he prepares for the biggest fight of his career.
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he → return → career
The 28-year-old enters UFC 334 with an unbeaten professional record of 10-0 and has won all six of his fights since joining the promotion in 2025.
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year → enter → 2025
His victory over Lewis at the White House was the most prominent moment of his UFC career until now, but Saturday's contest carries considerably greater sporting significance.
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contest → carry → significance
A win over Gane would make Hokit the UFC heavyweight champion, placing him at the top of a division in which the Frenchman is the reigning titleholder.
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Frenchman → make → which
Gane represents a substantial test for an undefeated contender who has built much of his public profile through outspoken behaviour outside the cage.
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who → represent → cage
Hokit has shown little interest in retreating from that approach, even as his comments about Obama continue to attract criticism.
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comments → show → criticism
For now, he appears content to accept the consequences of the attention he has generated.
asserted
he → appear → attention
His immediate task, however, is to turn an unbeaten record and a growing public profile into a championship victory at Madison Square Garden.
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task → turn → Garden
The Aporia
