UFC’s Joshua Hokit Says Michelle Obama Comment Was “Giving Her A Compliment”: “You’ll Never Hear Me Backtrack From What I Say”

UFC combatant Joshua Hokit is doubling down connected nan remark he made astir Michelle Obama aft winning his bout astatine nan UFC Freedm 250 arena astatine nan White House.

In a caller interview, Hokit explained that calling nan erstwhile First Lady of nan United States a “man” was intended arsenic a “compliment.”

“I thought I was giving her a compliment,” he said connected The Ariel Helwani Show.

The show’s big mentioned that nary 1 took that remark arsenic a compliment, and Hokit added, “Michelle Obama being a man. It’s like, she knows really to woody pinch adversity. She knows really to activity difficult for illustration a man erstwhile nan times get tough.”

On why nan erstwhile FLOTUS came to mind during that moment, Hokit said, “I thought it was a cleanable opportunity to show nan world really awesome this state is pinch state of speech.”

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“You spell location [else successful nan world], and you opportunity thing for illustration that, and you die. And I’m not suicidal, by nan way. I’m successful bully spirits. I’m a small nether nan upwind correct now, but different than that, I’m good,” he continued. “And truthful successful different parts of nan world, you opportunity thing for illustration that, and you’re not present to speak to Ariel Helwani, you know. So yeah, I don’t cognize there’s a ways — there’s a fewer answers to that. There’s a definite broadside that pokes astatine different side, and there’s nary outrage there, and truthful I thought it was a cleanable clip to return a jab.”

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One point is for sure: Hokit is not going to apologize aliases consciousness immoderate regret for what he said, adding, “You’ll ne'er perceive maine backtrack from what I say.”

Although Hokit won’t return backmost his words, UFC’s Dana White told Time, “Everyone knows my position connected free speech, but I dislike that benignant of nonsense.”

Watch nan question and reply successful nan video below.