UFC Fighter: Michelle Obama Remark Was a 'Compliment'

UFC heavyweight Josh Hokit says the line that made jaws drop at the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House—"Michelle Obama is a man"—was, in his view, both a "compliment" and a celebration of the First Amendment. Speaking Tuesday on "The Ariel Helwani Show" after his June 14 post-fight outburst went viral, Hokit claimed he meant to praise Obama's toughness: "She knows how to work hard like a man when the times get tough," he said, per Variety, adding that he used the moment to "show the world how great this country is with freedom of speech."

It was at least the second time Hokit had made the remark about Obama after a fight. On another occasion, he suggested beating up transgender opponents in the octagon, per MMA Mania, which also describes a deleted video in which he used the N-word. Hokit told Helwani he has no plans to walk back his comments: "You'll never hear me backtrack from what I say." UFC CEO Dana White, typically a vocal defender of fighters' speech, broke with Hokit in the latest incident, telling Time he opposes "saying nasty and false things about people's families." Yet Hokit expects no punishment. He said he could have two more fights this year, including a possible heavyweight title shot, per SB Nation.