The UFC White House card has added a seventh fight.
Rising heavyweight Josh Hokit, fresh off the biggest win of his career over Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 on Saturday, will face Derrick Lewis at the promotion's monumental June 14 event in Washington, UFC CEO Dana White announced.
White said on Instagram Live that President Donald Trump asked him why Lewis wasn't on the card. Trump was sitting cageside with White at UFC 327 at Kaseya Center in Miami. White said he offered the fight to Hokit and Lewis minutes later and they accepted.
Hokit, who made headlines throughout UFC 327 fight week because of his Colby Covington-esque persona, surged into title contention with a unanimous decision win over the No. 5-ranked Blaydes. The two heavyweights delivered an instant classic, trading heavy punches in all three rounds.
Hokit, who made his UFC debut last November, improved to 3-0 in the promotion. The 28-year-old California native is undefeated as a professional at 9-0 with eight finishes.
Lewis, ranked No. 8 in the division, is looking to get back on track from a second-round knockout loss to Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC 324 in January. The 41-year-old Houston resident is 2-1 in his last three outings. Lewis holds the record for most knockout wins in UFC history (16).
In the UFC White House main event, Ilia Topuria will defend the lightweight title against interim champion Justin Gaethje. In the co-headliner, former light heavyweight and middleweight champ Alex Pereira will move up to heavyweight to face Ciryl Gane for the interim belt.
