The UFC is heading to the White House, with Alex Pereira set to take on Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title. The fight, scheduled for 14 June, will be part of UFC Freedom 250. The event was announced last year by US President Donald Trump and is being held to celebrate 250 years of American independence.
Pereira Aims for Historic Third Title
Alex Pereira, currently ranked fifth in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings, vacated his light-heavyweight title last month. He is now pursuing a historic third belt at heavyweight. Frenchman Ciryl Gane last fought in October; his bout with undisputed champion Tom Aspinall ended in a no contest after Aspinall suffered accidental eye pokes, requiring surgery on both eyes.
Gane or Pereira are likely to face Aspinall in a unification bout when he recovers. However, Aspinall has not confirmed when he will return.
Topuria vs Gaethje to Headline
Pereira’s bout with Gane will serve as the co-main event on the six-fight card taking place on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington DC. The main event will be a unification fight between lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and interim title holder Justin Gaethje.
Spanish-Georgian Topuria has not fought since June, dealing with personal issues following his divorce. American Gaethje beat Britain’s Paddy Pimblett for the interim belt in January.
UFC’s $60m White House Spectacle
The White House has previously hosted recreational sports and events. The UFC’s show will mark the first professional live sporting event to take place on the grounds.
The UFC is set to spend about $60m (£44.3m) on the event. While full details are yet to be confirmed, UFC president Dana White said he expects about 5,000 spectators on the South Lawn, with a further 85,000 watching at a nearby park called the Ellipse.
Trump’s Longstanding UFC Connection
White said fans will not be able to buy tickets for the South Lawn, with about 1,000 reserved for members of the military. When Trump first announced plans for the UFC to host a show at the White House, it did not come as a surprise.
White has a long-standing friendship with Trump, who held some of the early UFC shows at one of his old properties, the Trump Taj Mahal, in 2001. Trump has appeared as a guest at numerous UFC shows, where he is the guest of honour.
The friendship is compounded by White’s public endorsement of the president, and he became a key ally during the 2024 election campaign.
It is here where the lines between sport and politics blur, with the UFC providing a platform for Trump’s politics. Trump benefits by aligning himself with the UFC, which is embedded in themes like patriotism, toughness and machoism. The UFC benefits from the relationship by reaching audiences through Trump’s global public p