UFC 327: Dana White post-fight press conference
Dana White speaks to MMA Junkie and other reporters following the conclusion of Saturday’s UFC 327 in Miami, Fla.
MIAMI – Dana White says Josh Hokit solved a problem mere hours after Donald Trump tasked him with it.
Impromptu, the UFC match-made mid-card Saturday at UFC 327. Minutes after Hokit (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) defeated Curtis Blaydes (19-6 MMA, 14-6 UFC) by unanimous decision in a double-bonus-earning performance at Kaseya Center, the promotion announced he’ll fight June 14 at the White House vs. Derrick Lewis (29-13 MMA, 20-11 UFC).
White has long said Lewis is one of Trump’s favorite fighters. White added that Trump had specifically inquired at Kaseya Center about Lewis’ absence from the UFC Freedom 250 event.
“What’s crazy is, organically, about an hour before that, the president said to me, ‘Why is Derrick Lewis not on the White House card?'” White told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference Saturday. “I said I’ll be back in five minutes. I went and called Derrick Lewis. I said, ‘The president wants to know why you’re not on the White House card.’ Derrick Lewis said, ‘Politics kept me off the White House card.’ I said, ‘Do you want to fight on the card?’ And he said, ‘I absolutely want to fight on the card. Tell the president thank you.’ Then, I told Mick Maynard, ‘Find a fight for Derrick. Let’s talk about it next week and whatever.’
“Then, the Hokit fight happens. I have the head phones on and Joe Rogan goes, ‘Is there another slot open on the White House card for Hokit?’ I go,’ Holy sh*t.’ I grab Mick and say, ‘Go back there and talk and see if he’s in. Hokit was getting into an ambulance and says yes.”
Hokit was transported to the hospital immediately after the fight. He was not made available to the media and White did not have an update on his condition when asked by MMA Junkie.
“That would absolutely suck (if he is injured) and believe me I would’ve heard it already,” White said. “No, I haven’t heard anything bad. I don’t think we’ve heard anything good yet, either.”
Hokit’s representative, Justin Thomas, of TNT Sports Management, however, told MMA Junkie via text that Hokit is “doing well,” so clarity should come in the coming days.
