Josh Hokit has quickly risen to become a huge star in the UFC's struggling heavyweight division. His performances on the mic and in the cage at UFC 327 were enough to earn him a coveted spot on the UFC Freedom 250 card.

That said, while his antics at the press conference entertained the crowd, they ended up drawing the ire of headliners Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria.

Josh Hokit is scheduled to face Derrick Lewis in a bout requested by President Donald Trump after seeing the rising star defeat Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327. But in addition to the POTUS, Hokit also earned himself many fans who enjoyed his WWE-like persona. At the press conference for the UFC Freedom 250 card, Hokit's gimmick was on full display.

He riled up the New Jersey crowd with his signature 'Am I right, (city's name)?' catchphrase, with Newark being the subject this time around. The American heavyweight eventually targeted Alex Pereira, who is the co-main event of the UFC White House card. Hokit first claimed that 'Poatan' could speak English before going after Pereira's family and calling him a dog.

I'm gonna Chama on yo mama. Look how I speak to him, like my dog. [Expletive] you.

This comment from Josh Hokit immediately got under UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria's skin. He responded instantly, reprimanding Hokit and telling him to sit down. But this did nothing to calm down the American, who verbally abused Topuria even as security stepped in to prevent a possible altercation.

The heavyweight rising star was ultimately escorted out. Even so, Hokit fired one last low blow at Topuria by referencing his recent messy divorce.

Alex Pereira seemed unfazed by all this, but it has since been revealed that the translator did not tell him what Josh Hokit said. Nonetheless, in Georgian culture, insulting a person's family is incredibly frowned upon. This is why El Matador stood up for 'Poatan' after the 'Incredible Hok' went after the Brazilian's mother in his rant.

But it seems Ilia Topuria wasn't the only UFC fighter who was bothered by Josh Hokit's comments. Surprisingly, former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland also resents the things his fellow American said to Poatan and Topuria during the press conference.

Sean Strickland has shown that, despite the callous nature of his trash talk, there are some topics he avoids. However, his fellow American, Josh Hokit, is not someone who adheres to the same limit. This is why, following the events of the recent UFC Freedom 250 press conference, Strickland expressed his disappointment in Hokit and his actions.

As he was being carried out of the press conference, Hokit had remarked that Ilia Topuria had shown everyone that finding a wife in Miami wasn't a good idea.

This was, of course, in reference to the viral clip of El Matador and the Nelk Boys that dropped a few months before Topuria's divorce. Hokit also commented on Michael Chandler's wife gifting him a Bentley, claiming she did it with Chandler's own money.

Sean Strickland explained in a few replies to fans' comments on X that he didn't agree with Hokit's behavior. However, he claims to know the outspoken heavyweight personally, calling him a 'cool guy.'

'Tarzan' compared Hokit's situation to Conor McGregor, claiming the Irishman was also inauthentic in his early career. Strickland said McGregor pretended to be Georges St-Pierre when he started out and that Hokit was making the same mistake.

The former middleweight champion said that he made the same mistake in the past, believing that acting like GSP would get him more money. However, he revealed that he got over it after reaching a certain age. For now, the middleweight title is what Strickland will have to focus on.

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