Cormier blasts Hokit's Michelle Obama comments after UFC White House event

Daniel Cormier used his YouTube channel to publicly condemn Josh Hokit after the fighter made a disparaging comment about former First Lady Michelle Obama following his victory over Derrick Lewis at the UFC’s landmark White House event on Sunday.

The UFC staged what it billed as the biggest event in its history on the South Lawn of the White House, drawing record viewership and largely delivering on the spectacle of the occasion. That narrative was overshadowed, however, when Hokit — known for a deliberately inflammatory, pro-wrestling-style persona — called Michelle Obama a man during his post-fight interview inside the octagon.

“Josh Hokit made a comment in the octagon on Sunday night after he won the fight, it was completely uncalled for,” Cormier said. “The comments that he made in the octagon just made no sense. It was irresponsible, it was nasty, it was horrible, and it was unnecessary.”

Cormier, who was working the commentary booth during the event, noted that he has a personal familiarity with Hokit, having trained alongside him. He described the fighter as a “normal dude” and a “great athlete” away from his on-camera character, making the moment all the more frustrating.

“He started his post-fight interview, and he was going to do one of those gimmicky things that, honestly, I think it’s lame as f*ck,” Cormier continued. “And then he stopped himself and he did an interview. And he was good. He could have left, and he could have made more fans than he walked in there with. But instead, he goes and says the thing about Michelle Obama, who is as classy a person as you will ever meet, who has only represented herself, her family, and this country with grace and class.”

The comment drew immediate backlash from multiple figures, including UFC CEO Dana White. For many observers, it represented the worst-case scenario for an event that had already attracted criticism for its political setting. Cormier argued that Hokit, coming off the biggest win of his career, had no need to resort to such tactics.

“So many people right now in our country are trying to divide,” Cormier said. “That’s the type of statement that divides, when in reality, we as a country should be” — the commentary cutting off there, but his broader message was unambiguous: get it together.