Josh Hokit didn’t expect Ilia Topuria to step in to defend Alex Pereira at the UFC White House press conference back in May, but he’s even more surprised at Topuria’s confidence about how things would’ve gone without security separating them.
Hokit, who faces Derrick Lewis on the card, turned his attention towards Pereira and continued to fire insults in the former two-division champ’s direction. Pereira – who speaks very little English stayed stoic, as usual – but eventually Topuria had enough and clapped back at Hokit, and things eventually popped off causing the fighters to be separated with Topuria eventually throwing a cup at Hokit, and the surging heavyweight being removed from the presser.
“The Incredible Hok” was asked about what he felt in that moment, and if he was shocked by it.
“I mean that was surprising,” Hokit told MMA Fighting. “But I’m now looking back at it I’m like, well, you had this guy that was stealing the [show] because he’s supposed to be the main event, and I’m like, now I’m the loudest guy, and maybe now I’m stealing the show from him and maybe he feels that type of pressure where it’s like all the eyes should be on him. And he’s earned that spot, and so he kind of felt like he maybe he needed to put himself there.
“But I thought it was kind of g*y for him sticking up for Pereira. I know he understands, at least, the words I was saying. He understands the middle finger flip off. Like he could defend himself. He doesn’t need a little f*cking little m*dget hobbit, to stand up and protect him. I mean, we’re all fighters at the end of the day. I don’t know what he was thinking.”
Topuria is scheduled to defend his lightweight title against interim champ Justin Gaethje in the UFC White House headliner, while Pereira battles Gane for the interim heavyweight championship.
Hokit earned his spot on the card with a Fight of the Year contending decision win over perennial contender Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 in April. UFC CEO Dana White said President Donald Trump asked him to put Derrick Lewis on the card, and after the incredible battle with Blaydes, Hokit was the obvious choice for the UFC brass.
As far as Topuria goes, Hokit says if “El Matador” still has a problem, he’s not going anywhere.
“I think the weight classes have people delusional, as well,” Hokit explained. “That’s another thing, maybe we need to bring back the open divisions and if a little guy wants to challenge a heavyweight, and he’s delusional enough to step in there, let him do it. I’m not trying to be a bully or anything, but I mean, if a man really thinks he could beat me in a fight, I don’t care what weight class it is. I mean, everyone could fight me. I’ll give everyone a fight if you really believe you could beat me in a fight.
“I think that’s how it was and probably in the gladiator days and the f*cking… when everyone was on horses and fighting with swords. I mean, they [didn’t] really care about weight classes then, so we shouldn’t really care about them now.”
Following the run-in with Hokit, Topuria said that it made his “blood boil,” and he was happy to hit him with the cup, and said that things would’ve gotten bad for the UFC heavyweight had security let him go.
“The cup definitely couldn’t miss,” Topuria told Alvaro Colmenero. “Lucky he had so many security people there, because, come on. One of the two was coming out worse off and it wasn’t going to be me.”
Hokit then responded to Topuria’s comments.
“Do you think he believes that?,” Hokit said. “You know what? Maybe that confidence is what makes him who he is though. So maybe he does believe that, but it’s like, I don’t know. I don’t [even know] how his punches… obviously if I have my hands down and he hits me with like a power slap type of punch, maybe it f*cking does something to me. But yeah, in what world like I wouldn’t just pick him up and slam him on his head and then the fight’s over.
“Like, what are we going to do? I mean, does he plan on having a gun or something? Or does he plan on bringing his little posse? Is that how he goes about fighting bigger people? I don’t know, but I think the delusion kind of makes him great, and so maybe he really believes it. But I mean, f*ck. If you think you could beat me in a fight, I’m the one sitting at the heavyweight weight class.”
Hokit is 3-0 in the UFC with three bonuses since being signed off of Dana White’s Contender Series this past summer. The 28-year-old has certainly garnered attention with his persona and multiple characters, along with his brash behavior with a live microphone in his face.
After trying to get under Lewis’ skin, it was time to shift to Pereira at the press conference in hopes to book a future fight with one of the sport’s biggest stars.
“Well, he’s now a heavyweight, and so he’s, now, I think the biggest name heavyweight,” Hokit said. “And I just think he’s not as good as what everybody makes him out to be and he has favorable matchups throughout his career. Now that whole Adesanya [rivalry], I respect that. But, I mean, Adesanya is still a kickboxer, and so he hasn’t faced someone that that could put it all together like me, and has the wrestling background and the cardio, and the durability, the speed, and all this other stuff.
“I kind of want to fraud check him. I don’t know if I can fraud check him at this point. He’s kind of established as a legend, but, you know, just take everything away from him, as a man.”
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