UFC White House Fight Card Shakes Up With Gaethje vs. Topuria Main Event

Dana White reveals behind-the-scenes drama and last-minute changes to the historic UFC event at the White House.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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UFC CEO Dana White has cleared the air on the rumors surrounding the UFC White House event, known as Freedom 250. White confirmed that the highly anticipated matchup between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria was never actually scheduled for the card. Instead, the real reason the fight fell through was due to scheduling conflicts with Power Slap. To add to the chaos, former BMF champion Justin Gaethje was initially told he would not be competing, only to be informed just days before the event that he would be headlining against Topuria. This sudden main event shift promises pure violence for the fans in attendance.

Why it matters

The UFC White House event, dubbed Freedom 250, has been shrouded in behind-the-scenes drama and last-minute changes, reflecting the unpredictable nature of the modern fight business. The main event shift from the rumored Makhachev vs. Topuria matchup to Gaethje vs. Topuria has created a stylistic masterpiece that no one saw coming, ensuring a must-see event for MMA fans.

The details

Dana White revealed that the real reason the Makhachev vs. Topuria fight fell through was due to scheduling conflicts with Power Slap, not because the fighters were dodging each other. Additionally, White confirmed that Topuria was not even part of the original plans for the UFC White House event. The chaos continued with former BMF champion Justin Gaethje, who was initially told he would not be competing, only to be informed just days before the event that he would be headlining against Topuria.

  • On Thursday, Gaethje was told he would not be competing at the UFC White House event.
  • On Saturday morning, Gaethje received a call from the UFC informing him that he would be fighting Topuria in the main event.

The players

Dana White

The CEO of the UFC, who revealed the behind-the-scenes drama and last-minute changes to the UFC White House event.

Justin Gaethje

The former BMF champion, who experienced a chaotic rollercoaster of a week leading up to the UFC White House event, going from being told he would not be competing to being informed just days before that he would be headlining against Topuria.

Ilia Topuria

The fighter who was originally not part of the plans for the UFC White House event, but ended up being the main event opponent for Justin Gaethje.

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The takeaway

The behind-the-scenes drama and last-minute changes to the UFC White House event, known as Freedom 250, highlight the unpredictable nature of the modern fight business. The sudden main event shift from the rumored Makhachev vs. Topuria matchup to Gaethje vs. Topuria promises pure violence for the fans in attendance, ensuring a must-see event for MMA enthusiasts.