Josh Hokit says he was surprised Ilia Topuria intervened during his confrontation with Alex Pereira at the UFC White House press conference, and does not believe Topuria’s confidence about what would have happened without security.
Hokit faces Derrick Lewis at UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday and spoke to MMA Fighting about the incident and the subsequent back-and-forth with Topuria.
I mean that was surprising. But I’m now looking back at it I’m like, well, you had this guy that was stealing the show because he’s supposed to be the main event, and I’m like, now I’m the loudest guy, and maybe now I’m stealing the show from him and maybe he feels that type of pressure where it’s like all the eyes should be on him.
Topuria had said after the incident that his “blood boiled” and that things would have ended badly for Hokit without security. Hokit was skeptical.
Do you think he believes that? You know what? Maybe that confidence is what makes him who he is though. So maybe he does believe that, but it’s like — in what world like I wouldn’t just pick him up and slam him on his head and then the fight’s over. What are we going to do? I mean, does he plan on having a gun or something? I don’t know, but I think the delusion kind of makes him great, and so maybe he really believes it.
Hokit also explained why he targeted Pereira in the first place, saying he wants to eventually test the former two-division champion.
He’s now a heavyweight, and so he’s now I think the biggest name heavyweight. And I just think he’s not as good as what everybody makes him out to be and he has favorable matchups throughout his career. I kind of want to fraud check him.
Hokit is 3-0 in the UFC with three Performance bonuses since being signed off Dana White’s Contender Series. His win over Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 in April was a Fight of the Year contender and earned him the spot on the White House card at President Trump’s request.
