At the UFC press conference, Josh Hockett made controversial remarks directed at Dan Hooker when asked about his flashy appearance in a suit. Hockett stated he could never understand how Hooker could like another man when there are attractive women on Miami beaches. The comment came in response to a journalist asking whether Hockett thought his showy entrance style resonated with fans or made them cringe. Hockett appeared in elaborate attire at the press conference, attempting to make a statement. The exchange highlights the unusual pre-fight theatrics unfolding between the fighters.
Josh Hockett directed a homophobic comment at Dan Hooker during a UFC press conference on April 9, 2026, drawing immediate attention for the wrong reasons after a journalist asked whether his flamboyant entrance style connected with fans or made them cringe.
When the question turned toward Hooker, Hockett remarked that he could never understand how Hooker could be attracted to another man when there were women on the beaches of Miami. The comment was unprompted in its targeting of Hooker and stood out as one of the more inflammatory exchanges seen at a UFC pre-fight media event in recent memory.
Dan Hooker, ranked fifth in the lightweight division, brings a 24-14 record into this fight. The 36-year-old New Zealander trains out of City Kickboxing in Auckland and has built a reputation as one of the more durable and high-output strikers in the 155-pound weight class. Fighting out of a switch stance with a 75-inch reach, Hooker lands 4.82 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, numbers that reflect a consistent and aggressive approach over a long UFC career.
Hockett arrived at the press conference in elaborate attire, clearly intending to generate attention and establish a persona ahead of the bout. The strategy produced headlines, though not entirely of the kind typically associated with pre-fight showmanship.
Why it matters
- Hooker is a top-five lightweight, so any fight involving him carries divisional weight at 155 pounds
- Hockett's comments risk drawing disciplinary attention from the UFC ahead of the event
- The exchange shifts focus away from the athletic matchup and onto conduct outside the cage
- City Kickboxing camps have historically responded to trash talk with composed, calculated performances
