“That Was Disgusting” Dana White Rebukes Josh Hokit, Praises Barack Obama
Dana White strongly condemned Josh Hokit. Dana White did not leave much room for doubt when he was asked about Josh Hokit following UFC Vegas 119. During the post-fight press conference, White said the heavyweight’s remark about Michelle Obama was “disgusting” and made clear he did not agree with it, even as he defended the idea that fighters will sometimes say things others reject.
“I Also Believe in Free Speech”: Dana White Condemns Josh Hokit While Explaining His Stance
The issue goes back to UFC Freedom 250 at the White House, where Hokit defeated Derrick Lewis and then turned his post-fight interview into a flashpoint. After the win, he said, “Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?” and the comment drew a mixed reaction on site while quickly setting off criticism outside the event.
White had already pushed back on the comment in the days after Freedom 250. In a text message to TIME, he said, “I understand that the Obama’s are public figures but I’m completely against saying nasty and false things about people’s families. Everyone knows my position on free speech but I hate that kind of nonsense.”
At the Vegas 119 media scrum, White expanded on that stance and tied it to his own view of presidents and public office. He said:
“That was disgusting. No, listen. There’s always going to be people that say things that most of us don’t agree with. I mean, just the time, the place, the f… I voted for [Barack] Obama the first time, didn’t vote for him the second time. Obama’s the only one that turned around to me, couldn’t have been a nicer guy and said, ‘Congratulations on all your success and everything that you have done.’ I respect all presidents, present and past. Not everybody does. Gotta listen to f stupid s*** like that sometimes unfortunately, because I also believe in free speech.”
First, White went out of his way to praise Barack Obama personally, saying the former president was gracious to him during an inauguration encounter.
Second, White framed his criticism of Hokit without suggesting the UFC would start policing every athlete’s words, which is consistent with comments he made before the White House card, when he said he never tells fighters what to say or not to say.
This was not the first time Josh Hokit had made a derogatory public remark about a black woman, noting that after a January fight at UFC 324 he called Brittney Griner “a man.” Before Freedom 250, White had even acknowledged that putting Hokit on a major card carried risk, saying in a May interview that he could “almost guarantee” bad things would be said at some point.
The story coming out of UFC Vegas 119 was less about whether White approved of what happened and more about how directly he answered it. He condemned Hokit’s words in blunt terms, defended basic free speech on principle, and used the moment to express respect for Barack Obama and for the office of the presidency itself.
