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UFC White House Event to Feature Rising Stars, Not Legends
Chael Sonnen explains why top draws like Jon Jones and Conor McGregor won't be part of the historic fight card
Published on Feb. 21, 2026
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Former UFC fighter and industry insider Chael Sonnen believes the UFC will use the high-profile White House event in June to feature up-and-coming fighters rather than established superstars like Jon Jones and Conor McGregor. Sonnen cited three key reasons: the fixed revenue model, the location being the main draw, and the need to expose new fans to fighters they can continue to follow after the event.
Why it matters
The White House event is a unique opportunity for the UFC to reach a massive new audience, and Sonnen argues the promotion will want to use that platform to build momentum for its current roster of fighters rather than rely on one-off appearances from retired or semi-retired legends.
The details
Sonnen explained that with a fixed revenue model on Paramount+ rather than pay-per-view, the UFC doesn't need to feature its most expensive stars. He also said the location of the White House is the main hook to draw viewers, so the promotion will want to showcase fighters fans can continue to follow after the event. Sonnen believes the UFC will want to expose this new audience to rising talents they can promote and have appear at future events, rather than older stars who may only fight this one time.
- The White House event is scheduled for June 2026.
The players
Chael Sonnen
A former UFC title challenger and industry insider who provides analysis on his YouTube channel.
Jon Jones
A former UFC light heavyweight champion considered one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time.
Conor McGregor
The biggest draw in UFC history, a former two-division champion known for his brash personality.
Dana White
The president of the UFC who predicts the White House event will draw more viewers than any previous UFC event.
What they’re saying
“Let me tell you why Jon Jones and Conor McGregor don't make any sense to be on the White House card. I can do it pretty quickly because there's just three reasons. Now, I'm coming at you from the perspective of the second floor of the UFC. Right? The business side of it.”
— Chael Sonnen, Former UFC fighter and industry insider (YouTube)
“Dana is not going to bring people to the White House for them to retire. He's just not.”
— Chael Sonnen, Former UFC fighter and industry insider (YouTube)
What’s next
The UFC is expected to announce the full fight card for the White House event in the coming months.
The takeaway
The UFC is using the high-profile White House event as an opportunity to showcase its current roster of rising stars rather than relying on past legends, in order to build long-term fan engagement and momentum for the promotion's future.
