Dana White made a major announcement during UFC 327, booking Josh Emmett versus Derrick Lewis for an upcoming event at the White House. The fight was arranged following a request from Donald Trump, who was sitting ringside. This brings the total to seven fights scheduled for the White House card. The announcement came shortly after Emmett's Fight of the Night performance against Curtis Blaydes, a three-round war that featured over 350 significant strikes. The post also highlighted other UFC 327 moments including submissions from Luque, Suarez and Gamrot, Cub Swanson's first-round knockout and retirement, and Paulo Costa's knockout of the previously undefeated sixth-ranked Azamat Murzakanov.
Dana White used the UFC 327 stage on the night of April 11 to announce a new matchup between Josh Emmett and Derrick Lewis, set to take place at an upcoming White House event. White revealed the booking was made at the direct request of Donald Trump, who was seated ringside for the card. The bout brings the total number of fights scheduled for the White House event to seven.
The announcement came on the heels of a standout evening for Emmett, who had just delivered a Fight of the Night performance against Curtis Blaydes in a three-round war that produced more than 350 significant strikes combined.
UFC 327 also served as a showcase for several other fighters. Paulo Costa, the 35-year-old Brazilian middleweight ranked thirteenth in his division, stopped the previously undefeated sixth-ranked Azamat Murzakanov by knockout. Costa, who fights out of Team Borracha, carries a 16-4-0 record and is one of the sport's most relentless pressers, averaging 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate.
Vicente Luque, the 34-year-old American known as The Silent Assassin, added another submission to his resume on the night. Luque holds a 24-12-1 record and fights out of Kill Cliff FC, blending his 4.83 significant strikes per minute with a steady submission threat averaging 0.7 attempts per 15 minutes.
Mateusz Gamrot, the Polish lightweight ranked tenth at 135 pounds, also secured a submission victory. The 35-year-old southpaw out of American Top Team carries a 26-4-0 record and is one of the division's elite wrestlers, averaging an exceptional 5.15 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Veteran featherweight Cub Swanson capped his night with a first-round knockout before announcing his retirement from the sport.
Why it matters
- The White House card now has seven announced fights, signaling a major high-profile event in the making
- Emmett enters the booking with fresh momentum following his Fight of the Night showing against Blaydes
- Lewis, a heavyweight, crossing paths with featherweight Emmett raises questions about format and catchweight arrangements for the event
Saturday, April 11, 2026
