In a surprising turn of events at the UFC White House press conference last month, Josh Hokit found himself in a heated exchange with Ilia Topuria, who stepped in to defend Alex Pereira. Hokit, set to face Derrick Lewis, didn’t expect the confrontation to escalate, but it certainly did, leaving fans buzzing.
As tensions rose, Hokit continued to throw jabs at Pereira, who remained largely silent, seemingly unfazed. However, Topuria, clearly irked, decided to intervene, leading to a chaotic moment where the lightweight champion threw a cup at Hokit before security had to separate the fighters. Reflecting on the incident, Hokit expressed his surprise at Topuria’s reaction.
“It was unexpected,” Hokit shared with MMA Fighting. “Looking back, I realize Topuria might have felt the pressure of being overshadowed. He’s the main event, but I was the one making noise, and maybe he felt compelled to defend his friend.”
Hokit didn’t hold back on his thoughts about Topuria’s actions, suggesting that the lightweight champion didn’t need to step in for Pereira. “We’re all fighters here,” he said. “He doesn’t need a ‘f*cking little hobbit’ to protect him. If he had something to say, he could have said it himself.”
As the main event approaches, Topuria is gearing up to defend his title against interim champion Justin Gaethje, while Pereira is set to battle Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight championship. Hokit earned his place on the card after an impressive victory over Curtis Blaydes, a fight that UFC CEO Dana White reportedly had President Donald Trump request to feature Lewis.
Hokit made it clear that if Topuria still has issues, he’s ready to face him. “Weight classes can create delusions,” he stated. “If someone thinks they can take me on, I’m game. I’d be open to fighting anyone, regardless of weight. It’s like the gladiator days—no one cared about weight back then.”
Following the altercation, Topuria expressed his frustration, claiming it made his “blood boil” and that he was glad to throw the cup. “If security hadn’t been there, one of us would have come out worse, and it wouldn’t have been me,” he remarked.
Hokit, however, questioned Topuria’s confidence. “Does he really believe that? Maybe that’s what makes him who he is,” he mused. “But in a real fight, I don’t think he’d stand a chance against me.”
With a perfect record in the UFC and a growing fanbase, Hokit is quickly making a name for himself. As he prepares for his upcoming bout, he also has his sights set on Pereira, expressing doubts about the former champion’s abilities. “I think he’s overrated,” Hokit claimed. “He’s had favorable matchups, but he hasn’t faced someone like me who can put everything together.”
As the fight card approaches, fans are left wondering if Hokit will get his chance to prove himself against one of the sport’s biggest names. What will happen when these fighters finally meet in the octagon?
