The UFC announced the complete fight card for UFC Freedom 250, taking place June 14 at the White House as part of President Donald Trump's America 250 celebration. The event will feature two championship bouts: Ilia Topuria defending the UFC World Lightweight Championship against Justin Gaethje, and Alex Pereira challenging for the interim UFC Heavyweight Championship against Ciryl Gane. The card also includes Sean O'Malley vs. Aiemann Zahabi, Michael Chandler vs. Mauricio Ruffy, Kyle Daukaus vs. Bo Nickal, and Steve Garcia vs. Diego Lopes. Approximately 5,000 spectators will view fights on the White House South Lawn, with an additional 85,000 able to watch on screens at The Ellipse. UFC President Dana White emphasized the event won't be overly political despite the historic venue.
The UFC has officially unveiled the complete fight card for UFC Freedom 250, scheduled for June 14 at the White House as part of President Donald Trump's America 250 celebration. The event will be held on the South Lawn, with roughly 5,000 spectators in attendance and an additional 85,000 able to watch on screens at The Ellipse nearby.
Two championship bouts headline the card. Ilia Topuria will put the UFC World Lightweight Championship on the line against Justin Gaethje, while Alex Pereira steps up to heavyweight to challenge Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC Heavyweight Championship. The undercard features Sean O'Malley against Aiemann Zahabi, Michael Chandler taking on Mauricio Ruffy, Kyle Daukaus facing Bo Nickal, and Steve Garcia meeting Diego Lopes.
Zahabi, a 38-year-old Canadian fighter out of Tristar Gym, enters the O'Malley bout at 14-3 and ranked fourteenth in the bantamweight division. He lands 4.54 significant strikes per minute at a 47 percent accuracy rate, though his grappling output is minimal with just 0.12 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Chandler, nicknamed Iron, is a 40-year-old American veteran carrying a 23-11 record into his clash with Ruffy. Fighting out of Kill Cliff FC, he generates 4.04 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy and mixes in nearly two takedown attempts per 15 minutes, making him dangerous in multiple areas.
Nickal, the 30-year-old American prospect at 9-1, brings exceptional wrestling credentials to his matchup with Daukaus. He lands 3.1 takedowns per 15 minutes and averages 2.5 submission attempts in the same window, pairing that grappling dominance with a 61 percent striking accuracy rate — among the highest on the card.
Why it matters
- The event marks the first time the UFC has staged a fight card at the White House, giving the promotion an unprecedented historic backdrop
- Two title fights at the top of the card raise the stakes considerably for both the lightweight and heavyweight divisions
- Nickal versus Daukaus carries clear middleweight ranking implications, with Nickal's wrestling posing a stern stylistic test
