UFC CEO Dana White distanced himself from Josh Hokit’s remark during UFC Freedom 250, but White indicated the promotion is unlikely to discipline him. The exchange adds to an uneven record on how the UFC handles slurs and derogatory comments.
Cageside at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House, Josh Hokit finished a fight and then went after Michelle Obama—only for Dana White to immediately step back from the remarks.
During a post-fight interview at the UFC’s event at the White House, Hokit said, “Michelle Obama is a man! Am I right, America?”
White, the UFC’s CEO, later made clear where he stood. In a text to TIME magazine. White 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.”.
Still, discipline was not part of the message. White also said he had heard about the comment but “hadn’t seen it” before.
“I don’t love it,” White said.
The likely outcome leaves a familiar tension at the center of the UFC’s public approach: a strong emphasis on free speech, paired with occasional disapproval when fighters cross personal lines.
Hokit’s comment wasn’t an isolated moment for the fighter. In January, during comments in the Octagon, Hokit similarly targeted Brittney Griner, saying of the basketball star “is a man.”
White’s record on discipline adds weight to the idea that this time may look like the last. White has never publicly disciplined fighters for the use of slurs or derogatory language while emphasizing “free speech. ” according to the reporting. That includes remarks from Bryce Mitchell, a fighter who, during a podcast in January 2025, said Hitler was “a good guy.”.
Mitchell also claimed Hitler “fought for his country,” denied the Holocaust occurred, and lashed out at Jewish and LGBTQ+ communities. White later addressed the comments on behalf of the UFC. saying. “I’ve heard a lot of dumb and ignorant (expletive) in my day. but this one is probably the worst. ” according to CNN.
White added. “When you talk about Hitler. he was responsible for the death of six million Jews and he tried to completely eliminate a race of people.” He went on: “Hitler is one of the most disgusting and evil human beings to ever walk the face of the Earth. and anyone that even tries to take an opposing position is a moron.”.
Mitchell later apologized for his remarks.
The inconsistency extends beyond that incident. Sean Strickland, the UFC’s middleweight champion, has used racial and homophobic slurs in public and has not been disciplined.
In a videotaped interview, White acknowledged the discomfort while leaning into the UFC’s tolerance for controversial speech. “I don’t agree with 95% of what this guy says, but it’s his right to say it,” White said.
Taken together, the sequence around Hokit—White’s distancing from the remark, paired with the lack of any stated disciplinary action—lands in the same place as prior controversies: the UFC may condemn the content, but it rarely follows with punishment.
For fighters, that approach can feel like a boundary that is more rhetorical than enforceable—especially when comments are framed as personal attacks on public figures and their families.
UFC Dana White Josh Hokit Michelle Obama free speech fighter discipline UFC Freedom 250 Brittney Griner Bryce Mitchell Sean Strickland
Uhhh UFC just gonna let it slide? That seems wild.
Dana said free speech but also “I don’t love it” so what’s the plan, like punish him or just clap back with words. I swear they only care when it trends.
Wait so he said Michelle Obama is a man and then Dana didn’t discipline him because he hadn’t seen it?? That’s kinda dumb. If it’s on camera how do you not see it lol.
This whole “free speech” thing in the UFC always feels like a loophole. Like they’ll distance themselves after the fact but still keep the guy around, and then next time somebody else says some nasty stuff. Also wasn’t that Brittney Griner comment too? I can’t keep track who said what, but it sounds like they’re picking and choosing what counts as “crossing a personal line.”