The UFC has officially revealed the lineup for its historic UFC White House 2026 event. During the UFC 326 broadcast, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje will headline the promotion’s special Freedom 250 card. The event will take place on June 14, 2026, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C.The announcement ended weeks of speculation about the first UFC event planned at the White House. While fans expected a stacked lineup for the landmark show, the promotion confirmed a championship fight at the top of the card along with several high-profile bouts across divisions.
Dana White unveils Freedom 250 lineup with Topuria vs Gaethje title fight
To begin with, the main event will crown the undisputed UFC lightweight champion. Current champion Ilia Topuria will face interim titleholder Justin Gaethje in a unification bout.Gaethje secured his spot in the matchup after defeating Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324, which earned him the interim belt. As a result, the June 14 fight will settle the lightweight championship picture.Meanwhile, the co-main event also carries major stakes. Alex Pereira will take on Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight championship. The bout places two of the division’s top contenders on the same stage as the lightweight title fight.In addition to that, several notable matchups will round out the Freedom 250 main card.
Confirmed UFC White House fight card (Freedom 250)
- Ilia Topuria (c) vs Justin Gaethje (ic): Lightweight championship
- Alex Pereira vs Ciryl Gane: Interim heavyweight championship
- Sean O’Malley vs Aiemann Zahabi: Featherweight bout
- Mauricio Ruffy vs Michael Chandler: Lightweight bout
- Bo Nickal vs Kyle Daukaus: Middleweight bout
- Diego Lopes vs Steve Garcia: Featherweight bout
However, two of the UFC’s biggest stars will not appear on the card. According to the announcement, Conor McGregor and Jon Jones are not scheduled to compete at the event, despite earlier speculation this year. Even so, the promotion has positioned the card as one of its most unique showcases. With championship fights and the White House South Lawn as the backdrop, Freedom 250 stands out as one of the most unusual events in UFC history.The remaining details, including start times for the prelims and main card on Paramount+, have not yet been confirmed. The promotion is expected to reveal that information closer to fight week.
