The much-anticipated lineup for the upcoming UFC White House event was finally revealed Saturday night. Speculation has been rife surrounding “UFC Freedom 250,” which is set to take place on the White House lawn on June 14, and confirmation of the main card finally arrived during the broadcast of UFC 326.
Lightweight champion Ilia Topuria (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) is set to return in the main event, where he will take on Justin Gaethje (27-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC), who recently defeated Paddy Pimblett to win the 155-pound interim title.
In the co-main event, Alex Pereira (13-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) will compete at heavyweight for the first time. The former middleweight and light heavyweight champion, who vacated his 205-pound title just last week, had been strongly rumored to face Jon Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) but will instead meet Ciryl Gane (13-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) for the interim belt.
Also on the card, former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley (19-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) takes on rising Canadian star Aiemann Zahabi (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC), while Mauricio Ruffy (13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) faces Michael Chandler (23-10 MMA, 2-5 UFC).
Bo Nickal (8-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) will face Kyle Daukaus (17-4 MMA, 4-4 UFC) in an all-American clash, while two-time featherweight title contender Diego Lopes (27-8 MMA, 6-3 UFC) meets rising star Steve Garcia (18-5 MMA, 8-2 UFC) in the main card opener.
Fights Confirmed So Far:
Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje
Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane
Sean O’Malley vs. Aiemann Zahabi
Mauricio Ruffy vs. Michael Chandler
Bo Nickal vs. Kyle Daukaus
Diego Lopes vs. Steve Garcia
