A UFC FIGHTER who won a match at Donald Trump’s birthday bash has garnered criticism for his statement that former US first lady Michelle Obama “is a man”.
Josh Hokit made the comment during a post-bout interview in the cage which, in an unprecedented move, was set up on the White House lawn especially for Trump’s 80th, which coincides with the 250th anniversary of the foundation of the United States.
Sunday night’s display of political machismo involved Trump, his wife Melania and thousands of others watching Hokit go head to head with fellow Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) combatant Derrick Lewis in the heavyweight fight.
Unprompted, Hokit said live on air: “Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right America?”
Members of the audience can be heard cheering and laughing.
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UFC boss Dana White has condemned the remarks, telling Time Magazine that he is “completely against saying nasty and false things about people’s families”.
“Everyone knows my position on free speech but I hate that kind of nonsense,” he said.
Titus O’Neill, a WWE wrestler, showed his support for Obama in a post on Instagram, in which he said comments like that of Hokit come from an “entitled and privileged mindset”.
The event was the first of its kind at the White House and mixed politics, business and entertainment.
The cage as adorned with ads for Bud Light and the fight itself was only available to stream live on Paramount Plus.
US fighter Justin Gaethje stunned Spanish-Georgian Ilia Topuria to take the lightweight championship in the main event. Gaethje was declared the winner after Topuria’s face was so badly beaten that he could not continue.
Afterwards, Trump and First Lady Melania entered the blood-spattered “Octagon” cage to congratulate a jubilant Gaethje, who wished the president a happy birthday.
With reporting by AFP