In the middle of an already chaotic night at UFC 327, the promotion delivered a headline-grabbing announcement, revealing that heavyweight knockout artist Derrick Lewis will face surging prospect Josh Hokit at the historic Freedom 250 card set for the White House.
The bout instantly adds intrigue, and serious firepower, to one of the most ambitious events in UFC history, pairing one of the division’s most feared finishers with one of its fastest-rising newcomers.
UFC CEO Dana White took to social media to make the announcement.
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“I said, ‘Derek, the president just asked me why you’re not on the card. Do you want to fight on the White House card?” White said he asked Lewis.
“Of course I do, tell the president thank you, I want to do it,” he said.
After Josh Hokit defeated Curtis Blaydes in easily one of the most entertaining heavyweight fights in recent memory,
“Then the Hokit fight plays out. He beats the #5 ranked guy in the world, and (Joe) Rogan says ‘Is there still room on the White House card?’. Then he went back and talked to him,” White said.
“Josh Hokit vs. Derrick Lewis was just added to the White House card in the last 10 minutes. Both guys accepted and agreed for the fight. Pretty badass how that played out organically during the fight.”
There had been talk the Freedom 250 had lost a 7th bout, and the open slot was filled by a perfectly timed performance by Hokit and a phone call by White.
