The White House typically welcomes foreign dignitaries, Nobel laureates, heads of state, and even the Easter Bunny. However, on Sunday, in celebration of President Donald Trump's birthday and at an estimated cost of over $60 million, it will host a mixed martial arts event featuring fighters with a history of inflammatory statements and misconduct.
Josh Hokit's Controversial Remarks
Heavyweight fighter Josh Hokit, who was specifically requested by Trump to appear at the White House, has a record of racist and offensive comments. He once referred to a Black UFC fighter as a "human gorilla," frequently uses racial slurs, and expressed a desire to report his Mexican mother to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Hokit has also repeatedly claimed that high-profile women, including former first lady Michelle Obama and WNBA star Brittney Griner, are men. During a 2025 post-match interview, he stated, "P.S. Michelle Obama is a man." Hokit describes himself as "100% transphobic." After he made a similar comment about Griner in January, UFC President Dana White advised him to moderate his language, saying, "I don't love it." Notably, White himself faced controversy in 2023 when he was filmed slapping his wife at a nightclub in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Sean O'Malley's Misogynistic Views
Bantamweight fighter Sean O'Malley has defended infidelity, citing self-described misogynist Andrew Tate, who faces rape and human trafficking charges in Romania. In a 2023 podcast, O'Malley said, "I'm a king, I pay for everything. If I get a little puss on the side, what does that have to do with anything? I have testosterone running through my veins; it's that fucking simple." He added, "Andrew Tate explains it well," and described himself as "fucking King Kong." O'Malley concluded, "It's status. You know I got status, so I can." More recently, he apologized to Chinese fighter Song Yadong after wearing a surgical face mask during a face-off, an apparent reference to COVID-19's origins in China. Song responded, "I'm OK, but I think don't bring racism in this sport. Just keep it a sport."
Ilia Topuria's Domestic Violence Allegations
Lightweight fighter Ilia Topuria, known as "El Matador," will compete for the first time since reaching an out-of-court settlement with his ex-wife, who accused him of domestic abuse. Topuria was forced to take time off from the sport late last year following the allegations, which he vigorously denied, calling them "unfounded" and "attempted extortion" in a statement.
