Washington — For heavyweight Josh Hokit, playing a wrestling style heel character throughout his UFC career to date has proven to be a double-edged sword.
Hokit (10-0) put on another dazzling performance on Sunday, beating Donald Trump’s favorite fighter, Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis, handedly. He did so on the biggest of stages, part of UFC Freedom 250 at the White House, and now has back-to-back victories over bona fide contenders in Lewis and Curtis Blaydes.
The Blaydes fight was already a Fight of the Year contender, one that got some of the pressure off of Hokit, whose trash talking had drawn the ire of UFC CEO and President Dana White. The boss, however, was willing to cut Hokit some slack after the Blaydes performance. That might have continued at the White House, then Hokit went full heel on the south lawn.
“Alex Pereira, I wanna ‘chama’ on yo’ mamma,” Hokit cracked, in character, before adding “Michelle Obama in a man. Am I right, America?”
Josh Hokit just called Michelle Obama “a man” on the mic after winning at UFC Freedom 250.
HOKIT: “Hey, shout out to Trump for having the balls to put some sh*t like this on!”
“And if I’m going to say anything, there’s only person more incredible than the Incredible Hulk and… pic.twitter.com/ydNPIEEHww
— Overton (@overton_news) June 15, 2026
For those unaware of Hokit’s antics or who don’t understand professional wrestling, the “heel” has one key job: get heat off the crowd. In other words, get them riled up, get them angry. In the wrestling world, that might mean going into a town and immediately calling it a dump. If the governor of a particular state is unpopular, side with him. If he’s popular, speak out against him. It’s a “generate heat at all costs” sort of deal, though there’s a fine line between “good” heat and “bad” heat.
Some will tell you there’s no such thing as bad heat.
Hokit was in character at the White House, but not everyone was smiling, or in on the joke. Mainstream media outlets, many of whom rarely cover fighting and would only touch professional wrestling if a scandal broke out (as several have), condemned Hokit’s comment about Obama. That forced Dana White to issue a statement to TIME magazine, whose cover he recently graced.
“I understand that the Obama’s are public figures but I’m completely against saying nasty and false things about people’s families,” White told TIME in a text message. “Everyone knows my position on free speech but I hate that kind of nonsense.”
Josh Hokit himself was on his best behavior at the UFC Freedom 250 post-fight press conference. Perhaps he’d had a talking to from Dana White, though that seems unlikely, given White’s free speech absolutism. Still, it didn’t matter; he was asked but a single question. That was about the potential of a fight against Pereira, who was knocked out by Ciryl Gane in the co-main event at the White House. And whether Hokit might instead set his sights on the title.
“I think that’s kind of self-explanatory. Aspinall, if he’s going to come back, he’s going to probably fight Ciryl Gane,” said Hokit, not playing any of his numerous heel characters. Not “The Incredible Hok,” not whatever weird Hispanic stereotype he’s been doing. Not even the nervous, anxious, neurotic fellow he’s called the “real” Josh. “Yeah, Pereira will need somebody to fight. I’m ready to fight.”
Whether Alex Pereira even wants the fight remains to be seen. Josh Hokit has been hounding him for months now, yelling at him in hotels, and coopting his trademark “chama” phrase in derogatory fashion. And whatever White says publicly, Hokit’s more than likely in the dog house once again. Though perhaps a fight with Pereira is punishment enough.
