Sean O’Malley regrets not backing Josh Hokit at wild UFC White House presser: ‘I f*cked up’

Sean O'Malley has expressed regret over his silence during a chaotic UFC press conference ahead of the June 14 White House card, where heavyweight Josh Hokit nearly sparked a full brawl with interim heavyweight title challenger Alex Pereira and featherweight Ilia Topuria.

Hokit, known for his provocative antics and theatrical promos, directed verbal barbs at Pereira during the presser. With Pereira's limited English proficiency, he did not fully grasp the insults being directed his way. Topuria, however, took exception and intervened, eventually throwing an object at Hokit before UFC security removed the heavyweight from the stage to prevent the situation from escalating further.

O'Malley, seated front-row between the three combatants as tensions erupted, remained largely composed throughout the exchange. In retrospect, the UFC bantamweight champion acknowledged he should have vocally backed Hokit during the confrontation, calling his inaction a mistake. Press conference altercations—whether verbal jousts or physical scuffles—are common promotional tools in combat sports, though they occasionally cross into genuine hostility that requires security intervention.