UFC president Dana White has revealed the fight card for the highly anticipated mixed martial arts bout set to be held on the South Lawn of the White House.
The event, being branded as UFC Freedom 250 – a nod to the United States’ 250th anniversary – is scheduled to take place on June 14, which is Flag Day in the US.
Organizers say the event could play out in front of an estimated 5,000 fans in the Nation’s Captial.
The headlining event of the evening will feature a bout between lightweights Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje to unify the lightweight belts. Topuria is returning after a hiatus.
‘Right now the timing is right for him and Justin Gaethje,’ Dana White said.
President Donald Trump, who made the push for this MMA event, will preside over the event as a part of the America250 celebrations.
The UFC has confirmed its massive event to be held at the White House this summer
The event will be held on the south lawn of the White House, with extra seating on The Ellipse
The main event will be a lightweight title bout between Ilia Topuria (L) and Justin Gaethje (R)
Elsewhere on the card, Alex Pereira and Cyril Gane will fight – as will Sean O’Malley and Aiemann Zahabi.
The most notable absence from the card is the name of Irishman Conor McGregor, who had been angling for a return to the octagon for this event.
However, the 37-year-old will not be brought back in time for the event in the United States. White has previously said that he trusts McGregor to follow through on his return.
‘McGregor has never, unless seriously injured, this guy has always delivered,’ White said.
As for logistics, the event will be held outdoors – with seating on the White House lawn for 5,000 people and then up to 85,000 set to watch from The Ellipse, a public park across the street.
‘We’re gonna have big screens, a stage, music throughout the day,’ White said. ‘We’re basically going to take over DC that whole week with lots of different things for fight fans.
‘The fighters will actually walk from the Oval Office to the Octagon.’
