UFC Announces White House Fight Card

Topuria vs. Gaethje headlines Freedom 250 event at the White House on June 14

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The UFC has announced the fight card for its upcoming Freedom 250 event, which will take place at the White House in Washington, D.C. on June 14. The main event will feature a lightweight title unification bout between champion Ilia Topuria and interim champion Justin Gaethje. In the co-main event, Alex Pereira will take on Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title.

Why it matters

This will be the first time the UFC has held an event at the White House, marking a significant milestone for the promotion. The card features several high-profile matchups, including a potential lightweight title unification and a battle for the interim heavyweight title. The event is expected to generate significant interest and attention.

The details

In the main event, Topuria (-455) will defend his undisputed lightweight title against Gaethje (+350). Topuria last fought at UFC 317 in June 2025, where he defeated Charles Oliveira to become a two-division champion. Gaethje is 4-1 in his previous five fights and won the interim title by beating Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324. The co-main event will see Pereira (-135) take on Gane (+114) for the interim heavyweight title. Pereira recently vacated his light heavyweight title to move up to heavyweight, looking to become the first fighter in UFC history to win gold in three different divisions. Other notable fights on the card include Sean O'Malley (-345) vs. Aiemann Zahabi (+275) in a bantamweight bout, and Michael Chandler (+300) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (-380) in a lightweight matchup.

  • The UFC Freedom 250 event will take place on Sunday, June 14, 2026.

The players

Ilia Topuria

The undisputed UFC lightweight champion, who is looking to defend his title against interim champion Justin Gaethje.

Justin Gaethje

The interim UFC lightweight champion, who will challenge Topuria for the undisputed title at the Freedom 250 event.

Alex Pereira

The former UFC light heavyweight champion, who is moving up to heavyweight to challenge Ciryl Gane for the interim title.

Ciryl Gane

The challenger for the interim UFC heavyweight title, facing off against Alex Pereira.

Sean O'Malley

The former UFC bantamweight champion, who will be looking to get back in the win column against Aiemann Zahabi.

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What they’re saying

“This is a historic moment for the UFC, to be able to hold an event at the White House. We're excited to showcase the best of MMA to the world on this stage.”

— Dana White, UFC President (draftkings.com)

What’s next

The UFC will continue to promote the Freedom 250 event in the lead-up to the June 14 fight night, with more details on the card and the fighters expected to be released in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

The UFC's decision to hold an event at the White House is a significant milestone for the promotion, showcasing its continued growth and popularity. The stacked fight card, featuring several high-profile matchups, is sure to generate significant interest and attention from fans and media alike.