Israel Adesanya understands the significance of displaying off your character to get to the highest, however wonders if Josh Hokitt went too far within the UFC White Home.
Hokit turned in a dominant efficiency in opposition to Derrick Lewis final Sunday, after which took to the mic for his customary colourful post-game promo. He ended his speech with offensive remarks about former first girl Michelle Obama, which threatened to overshadow the work Hokit has executed within the Octagon.
Demetrious Johnson’s response to the information mighty solidAdesanya joked that Hokit’s phrases may sometime put him in grave hazard.
“His speech after the sport was loopy, like within the White Home,” Adesanya stated. “I assumed this man was attempting to place a purple dot on his head. The final one who died saying that was Joan Rivers. I do not wish to go into that anyway. …Freedom of speech doesn’t suggest freedom of penalties, however I feel he can take care of the results.”
The undefeated Hokit has skyrocketed up the heavyweight rankings since making his UFC debut in 2025, going 4-0 with wins over perennial favorites Lewis and Curtis Blaydes. Alongside the best way, Hokit gained reputation and notoriety for his offhand statements and weird character switches, which turned a frequent subject of debate throughout recreation week, whether or not they have been humorous or not.
Towards Lewis, Hokit introduced his clown angle to the cage, at the very least so far as Adesanya is anxious. “The Final Stylebender” believes Hokit may have landed an armbar submission on the finish of the primary spherical, however as a substitute selected to increase the present.
“He offered it, I knew it,” Adesanya stated. “From the start, I used to be like, ‘He can end this.’ After which within the final 4 seconds he began screaming. I used to be like, ‘OK, he needs to take this to the second spherical.’ … I knew he was taking part in as a result of it was utterly prolonged.” You understand how to complete an armbar, I understand how to complete an armbar, however he simply held it and the yelling was like form of offered it to me. This man is simply Fugazi.
“That combat, he got here actually sizzling. He got here in and flipped him over both within the glare second or earlier than the glare. He is a man who can combat, irrespective of the swearing or the character.”
It is unclear what Hokitt will do subsequent, having rapidly rotated after Blaydes’ win, when President Donald Trump requested UFC CEO Dana White to search out an opponent so Lewis, one among Trump’s favourite fighters, may combat on the White Home. Hokit has labored arduous to construct a feud with former two-division champion Alex Pereira, however Pereira has largely dominated out the potential of a matchup.
Though Pereira was knocked out by Cyril Gane in Sunday’s interim heavyweight championship bout, falling in need of his bid to develop into the primary three-weight title holder in UFC historical past, Adesanya believes “Poitan” will seemingly return to mild heavyweight with a future bout with Hokit on the road.
“I feel he understands Hokit, however I say return to 205 as a result of I feel that’s what he does greatest,” Adesanya stated. “And he may return to heavyweight. Even Hokit generally. The way in which Hokit attacked him within the press convention just a few weeks in the past after which attacked him time and again, he appears to have us excited about him proper now. Now I wish to see that combat. It is a massive combat.”
