UFC president Dana White has revealed the lineup for the upcoming “Freedom 250” fight event scheduled to take place at the White House this summer, marking one of the most unusual venues ever used for a major mixed martial arts card.
The event is set for Sunday, June 14, and is expected to be held on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., before a limited audience. President Donald Trump previously confirmed plans for the historic fight card last October.
Headlining the event will be a lightweight title matchup between UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. The bout will serve as the main event for the highly anticipated card.
The co-main event will feature a clash in the heavyweight division between former champion Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane. The two fighters are scheduled to compete for the interim heavyweight title.
Several other high-profile fights are also slated for the main card.
According to reports, the remaining bouts include Sean “Suga” O’Malley facing Aiemann Zahabi, Mauricio Ruffy taking on former title challenger Michael Chandler, Bo Nickal fighting Kyle Daukaus, and Diego Lopes meeting Steve Garcia.
Most of the matchups highlight American fighters, with all but the Pereira-Gane bout featuring at least one competitor from the United States.
The “Freedom 250” card represents a rare crossover between sports and politics, with the White House grounds serving as the backdrop for a major UFC event. While the full logistics and security details have not been publicly released, the event is expected to be tightly controlled due to the historic location.
Dana White has been a longtime supporter and friend of President Trump, a relationship that has drawn criticism from some observers who argue the UFC has become too closely aligned with politics.
White addressed those criticisms during a recent appearance on CBS Sunday Morning, saying his friendship with Trump predates the president’s entry into politics.
White said the two have been friends for more than two decades and pushed back on claims that his political associations have changed the organization.
He also emphasized the importance of authenticity and respecting differences of opinion.
“How about you be authentic and just be yourself?” White said during the interview. “You don’t have to agree with me, and you don’t have to like it; and I don’t have to agree with you, but we can all still just get along.”
The upcoming White House fight card is expected to draw significant attention both from UFC fans and from observers interested in the unprecedented setting for a professional sporting event.
