UFC heavyweight fighter Josh Hokit repeatedly interrupted his fellow athletes during the UFC Freedom 250 pre-fight press conference on Friday, June 12, 2026, at the White House.
The undefeated heavyweight contender used his microphone immediately upon taking his seat to address the media and his upcoming opponent, Derrick Lewis.
"Is this thing on?" said Hokit.
"The Incredible Hok says he’s going to put Derrick to sleep, like Sleepy Joe, but I like Derrick Lewis.
I just want to apologize for ruining the press conference last time."
Hokit continued to interrupt when reporters directed questions toward lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, invoking his alternate performance personalities.
"I’m sorry, the Incredible Hok says Pereira chews up Topuria’s food and bird feeds it in his mouth," said Hokit.
Topuria, visibly annoyed by the continuous disruptions, demanded that officials intervene.
"Can someone just shut this guy up?" shouted Topuria.
"Just shut up. Thanks very much but shut up.
Just shut up."
Hokit then directed personal insults at Topuria during a subsequent exchange between the lightweight champion and Justin Gaethje.
"I think Topuria’s so mad because he’s so short he can’t see himself in the bathroom mirror," said Hokit.
"He married a stripper from Miami. I’m sorry."
Topuria made a final request to the production staff before UFC CEO Dana White concluded the media session.
"Turn his mic off!" said Topuria.
"Shut up!"
Hokit currently stands as a -410 betting favorite against veteran knockout artist Derrick Lewis for their scheduled heavyweight matchup on Sunday.
Meanwhile, interim heavyweight title challenger Alex Pereira addressed his prior interactions with Hokit during an interview on "The Ariel Helwani Show."
Pereira noted that Hokit had crossed a line during their backstage and onstage encounters in May, particularly by trash-talking his mother.
"He did cross the line.
I already saw guys trash talk other fighters, trash talk the father of the fighter, trash talk whatever, but never trash talk the mother," Pereira said through an interpreter.
Pereira also detailed a private, non-confrontational backstage encounter with Hokit that occurred on the same day before security guards were present.
"It's easy to say when there's a lot of security around, and anything can happen," said Pereira.
"Earlier that same day, he bumped into me, and he was about three or four feet away from me.
He looked at me and said, 'Chama.' Turned around and kept going."
Pereira, who expects to weigh around 251 pounds for his fight against Ciryl Gane, expressed his desire to remain highly active throughout the remaining months of 2026.
"I want to fight as soon as possible after this fight," said Pereira. "Jon Jones, I don't know if he's training.
Doesn't seem to be training. Aspinall, maybe is not going to be ready."
