Josh Hokit is the unruly class clown of the UFC who won’t stop with his antics until his peers stop laughing at his lame jokes.
Hopefully, we’re beginning to see the smiles turn upside down. Former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion and current analyst Daniel Cormier took aim at Hokit’s recent reckless and disgusting insult of former first lady Michelle Obama during his post-fight interview at the White House.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Who: Daniel Cormier, UFC Hall of Famer and current broadcaster
- What: Publicly condemned Josh Hokit’s post-fight insult of Michelle Obama
- Where: UFC Freedom 250, White House South Lawn, June 14, 2026
- The win: Hokit stopped Derrick Lewis by second-round TKO to move to 10-0
- Also on record: UFC CEO Dana White condemned the remark
What Did Daniel Cormier Say About Josh Hokit?
There was a lot, but it can be summed up as follows: this isn’t funny anymore. It’s disgusting, unnecessary and it’s going to cost you more than you’ll gain.
On his podcast, Cormier called the comment “gross” and “disgusting” and stressed there was no upside to saying it. He praised the former first lady as “as classy a person as you will ever meet,” arguing the jab was an unnecessary shot in a setting that called for unity. His closing message to the heavyweight was blunt: “get it together, dude.”
What Did Josh Hokit Say About Michelle Obama?
Hokit targeted Obama saying the former first lady “is a man.” No matter if you’re a Republican, Democrat or whatever, attempting to insult someone on this level is out of bounds and as Cormier pointed out, it divides people, as if we need any help with that concept.
After the post-fight interview in the Octagon, Hokit doubled down on the insult in another post-fight interview.
The remark overshadowed a milestone night and a finish over Derrick Lewis that should have defined his story on the historic White House card. UFC CEO Dana White quickly condemned the remark, saying he hates that kind of nonsense.
Why Does Cormier’s Criticism Carry Weight?
Cormier’s criticism carries weight because he’s not always the most outspoken person when it comes to these kinds of issues. He is often painted as a company man who plays it very safe with his commentary.
Cormier was dealing with his own X fiasco, but still found Hokit’s comments important enough to address. Some might say that’s strategic focus switching. No matter the motivation, his points are spot-on.
The “X fiasco” refers to a since-deleted post from Cormier’s account showing alleged messages with Eric Trump about “rigged” White House fights, which Cormier says came from a hacked account he had no part in.
Speaking out still carried risk, because he knows Hokit personally and trains with him at his gym. That insider relationship, plus his standing as a two-division champion calling a Freedom 250 broadcast sold as a celebration, is what makes the rebuke land harder than the outside political noise.
What’s Next For Josh Hokit?
Hokit is without question the hottest heavyweight prospect in the sport. He has also benefited from the attention his persona-filled mic work has delivered. He’s been seemingly taking guidance from Chael Sonnen, someone who masterminded the bad guy role during his fight days, but never stooped to these levels of skullduggery.
As it is, Hokit seems to be lined up for a huge heavyweight clash in his next fight. It’s very possible he could face Alex Pereira next in a bout that could lead to a title shot for the winner.
That persona has fueled his rise, but it also fuels the backlash. Pereira, though, is coming off a Round 2 KO loss to Ciryl Gane on that same card, where Gane claimed the interim heavyweight title, so any Hokit matchup reads as a floated callout rather than a booked eliminator.
If Hokit keeps leaning on stunts over substance, the fighting Cormier respects risks becoming the footnote.