Ilia Topuria’s Ex-Wife Dragged Into Feud by Josh Hokit Minutes After Apology

After the unfortunate rain delay, the UFC Freedom 250 pre-fight press conference got underway in full swing, with all the marquee fighters present at the prestigious Lincoln Memorial. For the most part, the fighters kept their trash talk professional. However, Josh Hokit turned things personal with Ilia Topuria moments after apologizing to him.

At the presser, a reporter asked Hokit for his thoughts on facing Derrick Lewis. In response, ‘The Incredible Hok’ claimed he was going to put Lewis to “sleep,” but surprisingly apologized to Ilia Topuria, Alex Pereira, and the UFC for ruining the previous press conference in May with his antics.

“Is this thing on?” Hokit said at the press conference. “‘The Incredible Hok’ says he’s going to put Derrick to sleep, like Sleepy Joe. But I like Derrick Lewis. I just want to apologize for ruining the press conference last time. I like Topuria too. I like Pereira. Those are my favorite fighters. So, I just want to apologize for all of that. Yeah, I’m nervous right now. Thank you guys. Thanks for having me, Dana. I’m trying to keep the Incredible Hulk from coming out, so I’m doing my best.”   

Hokit’s apology at the presser came after a very recent confrontation with Pereira. A few days ago, the Californian threw insults at ‘Poatan’ in the UFC fighters’ hotel, which Pereira ignored. After that, the former two-division champion stated during media day that he had heard whispers of the UFC potentially cutting Hokit from the roster. Still, the Californian’s apology sounded far from sincere as he delivered it in his caricatured voice. 

That notion rang true moments later when Hokit interrupted Ilia Topuria multiple times during the press conference. We could see Topuria shouting “shut up” while Hokit talked over him. However, things turned heated when the 28-year-old dragged the lightweight champ’s ex-wife into the conversation while Topuria was exchanging words with his opponent, Justin Gaethje. 

“Can I interject, please?” Hokit said. “I think Topuria is so mad because he’s so short he can’t see himself in the bathroom mirror. And he married a stripper from Miami. I’m sorry… the Incredible Hok, he’s just be getting in trouble. I’m sorry. Topuria, I’m a real big fan. You’re still my favorite. You have a tough task ahead of you, Gaethje is real hungry, and he’s American.”  

Josh Hokit throws a low blow at Ilia Topuria by saying he married a str*pper from Miami:

“I think Topuria is so mad cause he’s so short he can’t see himself in the bathroom mirror.

And umm, he married a stripper from Miami…”

@ufc pic.twitter.com/KigA3PB0d1

— Full Mount MMA (@MMAFullMount) June 13, 2026

Well, that’s the second time Hokit has brought Topuria’s ex-wife into a tirade. The last time, the heavyweight star also mentioned the Georgian-Spaniard’s ex-wife being from Miami during the UFC Freedom 250 promotional presser held in May in New Jersey. But the lightweight champion refrained from uttering a word after Hokit insulted him once again during the latest presser, though the anger was fairly visible on his face.  

Now, it’s not only Josh Hokit who has brought Ilia Topuria’s ex-wife Giorgina Uzcategui to make things personal. Even the lightweight champion’s opponent did the same a few days ago.  

Justin Gaethje lands a divorce jab against Ilia Topuria ahead of UFC White House fight 

Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje’s beef remained mostly cold ahead of the UFC Freedom 250 main event. However, the situation turned personal when the two-time interim lightweight champion landed a verbal jab at the Georgian-Spaniard’s controversial divorce. Speaking to Fox Sports Australia, Gaethje stated that he would have left Topuria just like his wife, throwing shade at the 155 lbs champion’s personality as a whole. 

“All that guy is a gimmick,” Justin Gaethje said. “He calls himself the king. He thinks he’s a God. What an annoying little b–tard. I couldn’t imagine being in a room with him for 30 minutes, listening to him talk about himself.“And I can say this: I would leave him. That’s all I’m saying. I would leave him. No way I would put up with his s—.”  

Following this, Topuria also responded to Gaethje on social media, letting him know that he had “crossed a line” with his recent comments. The lightweight champion also advised his opponent to be “better” in the way he creates animosity. Since then, every interaction between the two has been heated. Topuria even shoved Gaethje during their faceoff at the recent press conference at the Lincoln Memorial. 

That said, with Ilia Topuria facing personal insults from both Hokit and Gaethje regarding his divorce, it might fuel him even further heading into his clash on June 14. But will he let those emotions creep in and make him reckless inside the Octagon? We’ll find that out soon enough.

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