UFC President and CEO Dana White may have surprised some people when he spoke out against UFC fighter Josh Hokit calling former first lady Michelle Obama a during the UFC Freedom 250 event.
“That was disgusting,” White said, condemning Hokit’s assertion during a press conference.
Hokit also revealed that he actually voted for Michelle’s husband, Barack, the first time he ran for office in 2008, and that while he didn’t vote for him in 2012, he believes all presidents are deserving of respect.
“I’ve said many times, I voted for Obama the first time,” White said. “Didn’t vote for him the second time. Then at the inauguration, he was sitting in front of me. And then I saw all this stuff on the internet, with people like ‘Oh, Dana’s mad-dogging Dana.’ Obama’s the only one that turned around to me – couldn’t have been a nicer guy – and said, ‘Congratulations on all your success and everything you’ve done.’ I said, ‘Thank you, Mr. President.’”
Despite previously voting for a Democrat, White has since become commonly associated with the Republican Party, thanks in no small part to his closeness with U.S. President Donald Trump. White recently appeared on Outkick, a right-leaning sports outlet, and was asked why the UFC doesn’t celebrate Pride Night.
“I don’t care what you are, who you are, what you do.”
“I’m staring at my board, my roster of top 15 fighters, you know. I’m assuming we have some gay fighters. I don’t know how many of them are openly. I know that we have, uh, gay female fighters. I don’t give a sh*t,” White responded. “I don’t care what you are, who you are, what you do. You know, that’s just—we don’t talk about that or any of that stuff.
“We did, we have a t-shirt that says we are all fighters, and it’s got like the gay flag colors on it. But I don’t know, everybody do your own thing. I’m just not into it.”
Dana White is asked why the UFC doesn’t have Pride nights. pic.twitter.com/IuioN7MDCh
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) June 24, 2026
White used Hokit’s words as an example of how, regardless of what he feels about something, he wants to let everyone be themselves.
I don’t, listen, you think I’m happy about what Josh Hokit said? The night that I’m trying to unify the country, he goes out and says something absolutely stupid like he did that night. But I am a believer of free speech too. So I don’t know, we just, I let everybody be themselves, do their thing.”
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.