A Hostile Encounter on Stage
The lead-up to the upcoming UFC White House event took a dramatic turn during Friday’s kickoff press conference in Newark. Lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and heavyweight prospect Josh Hokit were involved in a heated confrontation that nearly turned into a brawl on stage.
Hokit, widely recognized for his provocative persona and trash-talking, spent much of the event directing insults at various fighters. Hokit is currently scheduled to face Derrick Lewis on June 14 on the White House grounds, a victory that could elevate his standing in the heavyweight division, potentially leading to future bouts against stars like Alex Pereira or Ciryl Gane.
The situation escalated when Hokit began taunting Pereira, who was sitting next to bantamweight star Sean O’Malley. Topuria, clearly displeased with the behavior, intervened by standing up and throwing an object at Hokit. The incident resulted in security personnel rushing to the stage to remove Hokit, effectively cutting the press conference short.
During his tirade, Hokit did not hold back, shouting insults at his peers:
«I am the real BMF belt, little, short midget. F you. Come up to a real man. I'll give it to anybody. I don't give a f.»
Topuria’s Focus on the Main Event
While a clash between the lightweight champion and the heavyweight contender remains impossible in the octagon due to weight class restrictions, Topuria is focused on his upcoming headliner against interim champion Justin Gaethje. UFC CEO Dana White recently confirmed that Arman Tsarukyan will serve as the backup fighter for the main event.
Topuria appears unfazed by the potential change in opponents, stating:
«One thing I know for a fact is Gaethje never fought someone like me. The only thing I want from Justin is for him to show up, and I'm going to do the rest. I don't care who I'm going to have in front of me on June 14. I'm going to break his jaw in the first minute — whether it's Arman or Justin.»
Pereira Eyes Historic Third Title
Meanwhile, the co-main event features Alex Pereira competing for the interim heavyweight championship against Ciryl Gane. A win for Pereira would secure his place in the record books, marking his third divisional title in the UFC.
Reflecting on his potential to make history, Pereira noted:
«The work has been shown. The reason I’m here is because of the work and effort we put in as a reward for everything that I’ve done. And now, an opportunity to turn that into a third belt. That is historic. I was always prepared for heavyweight. I’ve been an athlete, ready to go, and I’m prepared for this.»