Ilia Topuria’s bloodied face in a “ring” set up in the White House gardens was one of the unusual images from Donald Trump’s 80th birthday party on Sunday, which featured a historic UFC fight in which American fighter Josh Hokit declared to the audience: “Michelle Obama is a man.”
This comment by the mixed martial arts fighter was one of the most controversial moments of the evening. He made it following his victory over Derrick Lewis, and it drew both support and confusion as he repeated a conspiracy theory targeting the wife of former President Barack Obama.
“And finally… Michelle Obama is a man,” Hokit shouted into the microphone. “Am I right, America?” the fighter said before leaving the octagon.
This theory, which has been repeatedly debunked, dates back at least to 2008, but gained traction in 2014, when the late comedian Joan Rivers was filmed on the streets of New York claiming that Michelle was transgender and that Barack Obama was gay.
The Republican leader’s birthday drew a crowd of ardent supporters and was marked by imagery that was unusual for an official celebration, during which chants calling for the annexation of Canada as the 51st state could also be heard.
Notable attendees included Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Paramount CEO David Ellison, as well as Spanish TV host Pablo Motos, who traveled to Washington to support Topuria, with whom he shares a close friendship.
Motos witnessed firsthand the brutal barrage of blows that the Spanish-Georgian fighter—who had been undefeated until then—took; he lost his lightweight title and walked out of the ring with his face completely disfigured.
Given the severity of his injuries, Topuria was taken directly from the White House to a hospital for emergency treatment.
Beyond the fight itself, critics argued that the event was intended to project the image of a leader determined to turn politics into a spectacle and to strengthen his connection with a base that relishes the drama of confrontation.
This tension had been building since last Friday, when Topuria shoved his opponent, American Justin Gaethje, during a pre-fight confrontation.
Trump turned his birthday into a visually striking and highly symbolic event, blending patriotism with an aggressive aesthetic that resonated with his base, particularly among young UFC fans.
The event—from the massive ring set up at the White House to the crowded Fan Zone nearby—was designed to project an image of unflinching leadership in line with the president’s decisions.
For opponents, however, the event reinforced the perception of a head of state who prioritizes grandstanding and the cult of personality in settings traditionally reserved for institutional events, according to Agencia EFE.
Here is the video of the insult directed at Michelle Obama.
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