Ilia Topuria again speaks about his viral confrontation during the UFC White House press conference. The UFC lightweight champion visited Washington to promote his June 14 main event matchup against controversial heavyweight contender Justin Gaethje. Rather than putting up a significant push for his fight in superlative terms, he nearly came to blows with Hokit.
During the speech, Hokit made derogatory comments about Alex Pereira’s mother and got on Topuria’s nerves. “El Matador” has now revealed he felt compelled to hit back at Hokit for making derogatory comments about Pereira’s mother.
Ilia Topuria revisits the clash with Josh Hokit
Security personnel removed Hokit from the UFC White House press conference after his clash with Topuria. Meanwhile, Hokit spoke afterward online and downplayed his comments about Pereira’s mother. Pereira insists the comments weren’t that bad, while implying that middle school lunch tables across America had worse tirades. Yet, Topuria insists Pereira crossed the line against a fellow professional.
“You can taunt another fighter’s professionalism, that’s part of it. But talking about someone’s mother? My blood boiled right then… He was lucky there was so much security there, otherwise one of us two would’ve left that place hurt – and it wouldn’t have been me.”
Topuria, the only undefeated professional in the UFC at the moment, will attend the UFC White House clash on July 14 with 17 unbeaten fights. He won the featherweight title by beating Alexander Volkanovski in early 2024 before beating Max Holloway later in the year. Last year, Topuria notably knocked out former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira to win the 155 lb belt.
He’ll face two-time interim lightweight champion and former BMF title holder Justin Gaethje in Washington next month. Gaethje enters the fight with a 27-5 record and is the interim title holder. After defeating Paddy Pibmblett to clinch the interim title, he’ll have his shoulders high ahead of his historic clash with Topuria.
