Dana White shared the story of how they organized an additional fight for the upcoming White House event in just one hour during UFC 327. White asked a fighter if he wanted to compete at the White House event, and the fighter agreed, asking White to thank the president. White instructed Mick Maynard to find a fight for Derrick Lewis, initially planning to discuss it the following week. However, when Joe Rogan mentioned the White House card during the UFC 327 broadcast, White immediately sent Maynard to speak with Khokuto, who was being loaded into an ambulance at the time. Khokuto gave his consent to compete despite just finishing his own fight. The spontaneous organization demonstrates the fast-paced decision-making typical of UFC event planning.
During the UFC 327 broadcast on April 11, Dana White revealed how a fight for Derrick Lewis at an upcoming White House event was arranged in roughly one hour, offering a rare glimpse into the spontaneous side of UFC matchmaking.
White recounted approaching Lewis directly and asking whether he wanted to compete at the White House event. Lewis agreed on the spot, reportedly asking White to pass his thanks to the president. White then instructed matchmaker Mick Maynard to find Lewis an opponent, with the expectation that the details would be worked out the following week.
That timeline collapsed almost immediately. When Joe Rogan referenced the White House card during the live UFC 327 broadcast, White moved without hesitation, sending Maynard to seek out Lewis's prospective opponent — identified as Khokuto — who was at that moment being loaded into an ambulance after finishing his own fight earlier in the evening. Khokuto gave his consent to compete despite having just come out of a bout.
Lewis, 41, carries a 29-14-0 record and currently sits ranked eighth in the UFC heavyweight division. The six-foot-three American, who trains out of Main Street Boxing and Muay Thai, lands 2.46 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy — numbers that have made him one of the division's most recognized knockout threats over the course of his career.
Why it matters
- Lewis is a ranked heavyweight at number eight, meaning his placement on any card carries divisional weight.
- The White House event represents an unusually high-profile platform, and a last-minute booking of a top-ten fighter signals the UFC's willingness to move quickly to strengthen the card.
- The circumstances surrounding Khokuto's consent — given while receiving medical attention after a fight — are likely to draw scrutiny regarding athlete welfare and matchmaking protocol.
Saturday, April 11, 2026
