UFC Adds Josh Hokit to White House Card at Donald Trump's Direct Request
The UFC has expanded its upcoming White House event by adding a high-profile heavyweight bout, following a personal request from President Donald Trump. This decision came after Trump witnessed an electrifying fight live at UFC 327 in Miami, where Josh Hokit outlasted Curtis Blaydes in what many are calling an instant classic.
President Trump's Ringside Influence on UFC Matchmaking
President Donald Trump, a longtime UFC enthusiast, attended UFC 327 at Miami's Kaseya Center, sitting ringside as he has done at numerous events in recent years. From that vantage point, he watched Josh Hokit secure a points victory over compatriot Curtis Blaydes in a wild heavyweight contest that captivated everyone present.
The fight featured non-stop action across all fifteen minutes, with both fighters becoming bloodied and badly hurt on multiple occasions. Remarkably, neither competitor went down, leading fans and commentators to praise the bout as one of the finest ever produced in the heavyweight division. Even former heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier, serving as a commentator, expressed disbelief with a laugh at the quality of the contest.
Hokit's Performance Earns White House Spot Against Derrick Lewis
Josh Hokit, whose WWE-style self-presentation had drawn significant attention and divided opinions during fight week, delivered emphatically inside the cage. After his hand was raised in victory, Hokit delivered a rhyming post-fight speech during his interview with Joe Rogan. This performance has now earned him a coveted spot on the White House card scheduled for June 14th.
Hokit will face former title challenger Derrick Lewis, one of President Trump's favourite fighters, in what promises to be another explosive matchup. UFC president Dana White announced this addition in a social-media video during UFC 327, where he sat alongside his close friend President Trump.
"I said, 'Derrick, the president just asked me why you're not on the card. Do you wanna fight on the White House card?' And he goes: 'Of course I do. Tell the president thank you, I wanna do it,'" White explained in the video. "Then the Hokit fight plays out, he beats the No 5-ranked guy in the world, and Joe Rogan says: 'Is there still room on the White House card?'"
White continued: "Went back and talked to [Lewis]. Hokit vs Lewis was just added to the White House card in the last ten minutes. President Trump built half of that fight, and Rogan built the other half. Both guys have accepted and agreed for the fight, so we're adding one more to the White House: Hokit vs Derrick Lewis. Pretty badass how that played out organically during the fight [card]."
White House Card Features Stacked Lineup of Championship Bouts
The White House event will be headlined by Ilia Topuria's lightweight-title defence against interim champion Justin Gaethje. The co-main event features Alex Pereira taking on Ciryl Gane, with the interim heavyweight belt on the line. Pereira's move up to heavyweight follows his decision to vacate the light-heavyweight title, which was contested in the UFC 327 main event.
In that headline bout, former champion Jiri Prochazka was knocked out cold by an injured Carlos Ulberg in the first round. Prochazka admitted afterwards that he had shown "mercy" to Ulberg by not attacking the New Zealander's injured knee sufficiently during their encounter.
The addition of Hokit versus Lewis adds another compelling narrative to an already stacked White House card, demonstrating how live sporting moments can directly influence matchmaking decisions at the highest levels of mixed martial arts.
