UFC heavyweight Derrick Lewis has been added to the UFC Freedom 250 card after President Donald Trump directly intervened, according to UFC CEO Dana White.
The event is scheduled for Sunday, June 14, 2026, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.
C. , celebrating America's 250th anniversary.
Trump's Personal Request
White said Trump questioned Lewis's absence during an April event in Miami, prompting him to call Lewis immediately to arrange a matchup against Josh Hokit.
"About an hour before that, the president said to me, 'Why is Derrick Lewis not on the White House card?'
I said, 'I'll be back in five minutes,'" White told AP News.
"I called Derrick Lewis and said the president wants to know why you're not on the White House card."
White explained that Trump likes Lewis's personality and fighting style.
Lewis, 41, known as "The Black Beast," holds the UFC record for most knockouts with 16.
Lewis Reacts to Opportunity
Lewis expressed gratitude for the high-profile fight, saying he had always wanted to visit the White House.
"I've been wanting to come in the White House just to see how it is," Lewis said.
Reflecting on his journey from a difficult childhood and time in prison, Lewis said, "Life is like a movie.
... Somebody needs to write a book about my life."
Lewis previously spoke with Trump after a victory in July 2025, but said the crowd noise made it hard to hear.
"He did sound like the 'South Park' character," Lewis said.
Lewis enters the bout after a January loss to Waldo Cortes-Acosta, which he blamed on a back injury while weighing near 300 pounds.
"I brushed it off," Lewis said. "I know the reason why I lost that fight is because I had a back injury."
Lewis questioned Hokit's decision to fight just 64 days after absorbing 214 strikes in a win over Curtis Blaydes.
"I believe he's making a mistake," Lewis said.
Hokit, undefeated at 9-0, made eccentric threats during media availability, including having Lewis kidnapped by mimes.
Lewis responded with his characteristic humor, saying he wouldn't mind mimes playing with his booty hole, then quickly backtracked.
The matchup features a contrast in reach: Lewis stands 6-foot-3 with a 79-inch reach, while Hokit is 6-foot-1 with a 73.5-inch reach and Division I wrestling experience.
