UFC Fighter Josh Hokit Defends Calling Michelle Obama a ‘Man’ and Claims It Shows ‘How Great’ America Is ‘With Freedom of Speech’

UFC fighter Josh Hokit defended his statement that "Michelle Obama is a man" on Tuesday during an appearance on "The Ariel Helwani Show." Hokit stated that he believed he was offering a compliment and that his remark was intended to highlight the freedom of speech in America. He made the comment following his victory at the White House's UFC Freedom 250 event. Hokit elaborated that his intention was to express how great America is due to its guarantee of free speech, suggesting that such a statement, which might be censored elsewhere, is permissible in the United States. He did not offer further clarification on why he specifically chose to refer to Michelle Obama in this manner or what he perceived as a compliment within the statement.