August M
Live sports events always bring plenty of unpredictable drama, both inside and outside the arena.
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But when high-stakes athletic competition moves to a political stage, the unexpected moments can quickly steal the spotlight, The Express reports.
A wild night
The worlds of mixed martial arts and Washington politics collided on Sunday evening during a unique sports showcase. The Express reported that the White House South Lawn turned into a fighting venue as US President Donald Trump hosted the UFC Freedom 250 event.
Fans expected intense action and powerful knockouts from the heavyweights on the card. However, the crowd got a massive dose of political controversy immediately after the main action in the cage ended.
Heavyweight fighter Josh Hokit took the spotlight following his big victory against Derrick Lewis. After the referee stopped the bout, the winning fighter stood in the center of the lawn for his post-fight interview.
Shocking mic drop
Longtime UFC commentator Joe Rogan stepped up to interview the victorious athlete. Hokit took hold of the microphone and used his platform to shout a long-running internet conspiracy theory directly to the audience.
The fighter did not hold back. At the end of the interview, he said: “Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?”
The bold statement left the live crowd split down the middle. According to online videos of the event, some people in attendance laughed at the comment while others looked completely shocked by the political shoutout.
Rogan chose not to engage with the controversial claim. Instead, he kept things moving and simply wrapped up the segment by saying: “Ladies and gentlemen, Josh Hokit.”
Chains and romance
The drama did not stop with the microphone rant. Right after speaking to Rogan, Hokit walked over to where Trump was watching the fights and draped a chain around the president’s neck.
The Express noted that it was not the only memorable moment during the unusual evening. Earlier in the night, Brazilian fighter Mauricio Ruffy scored a big knockout against his opponent Michael Chandler.
Ruffy used his own post-fight speech for something much sweeter than politics. He surprised everyone by proposing to his girlfriend Nadine right there on the lawn, and she quickly gave him a thumbs up.
Sources: The Express
