Somewhere in the middle of cursing and insulting a former first lady, UFC heavyweight Josh Hokit made a reference to Christianity that no one is likely to remember.
Hokit is simultaneously — and rapidly — becoming a force and an irritant in the world of mixed martial arts. (During Friday’s press conference, he repeatedly interrupted fighters, prompting Ilia Topuria to ask someone to take Hokit’s mic away.)
After beating Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday to improve to 9-0, Hokit disparaged Michelle Obama during a post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. The crowd responded “with a mix of laughter and groans,” according to Time.
UFC President and CEO Dana White condemned the remark in a message sent to Time.
“I understand that the Obama’s are public figures but I’m completely against saying nasty and false things about people’s families,” White said. “Everyone knows my position on free speech but I hate that kind of nonsense.”
But before Hokit’s interview went out over the Paramount+ broadcast, two other victorious fighters spoke to their Christian faith in their post-fight comments.
Bo Nickal, a Christian middleweight who wrestled collegiately at Penn State, knocked out Kyle Daukaus in the second fight of the UFC Freedom 250 card, held on the South Lawn of the White House.
Nickal thanked his parents, sisters, wife and children for their support, then expounded on his faith.
“I’m so grateful to God for blessing me with this opportunity,” said Nickal, who grew up in Texas. “I learned a Bible verse in high school, it’s John 10:10. It says, ‘The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. I have come to give you life so that you may live it to the full.’ And I feel like I’m living it to the full, enjoying every moment.”
“I’m just as grateful as can be, and that’s really my attitude moving forward in life is having gratitude and appreciate all that God’s blessed me with.”
In the next fight on the card, Brazil’s Mauricio Ruffy knocked out his opponent — Michael Chandler of the United States — in the first round of their lightweight contest.
Ruffy, who uses a translator, answered in English and thanked “my God for my life.”
“I have a message,” he said, going on to recite John 3:16 as cheers rose up from the crowd.
“Jesus changed my life. Jesus saved my life,” Ruffy said. “Jesus wants to save your life, too. Give your life to Jesus.”
He answered two questions about the fight and getting a title shot in Portuguese, and then made a marriage proposal to his girlfriend, Nadine, who he had referred to as his “wife,” but explained through his translator that “he really wanted to marry her, but we didn’t have the money.
“Nadine, I love you. Would you marry me, since we’re right here in the White House?”
“She gave the thumbs-up,” Rogan said. “Congratulations, sir.”
