Alex Pereira, Ilia Topuria, Justin Gaethje, and Ciryl Gane were photographed in the Oval Office with President Donald Trump. The meeting took place 39 days before the planned UFC White House event. The post confirms the four fighters are involved in the upcoming special White House card. Additional details about the event were not provided in the post, but the photo indicates high-level promotion and access for the fighters ahead of this unique UFC show.
Four of UFC's biggest names made a visit to the White House on May 6, joining President Donald Trump in the Oval Office roughly five weeks before a planned UFC card at that same location on June 14. A photograph of the meeting confirmed the presence of Alex Pereira, Ilia Topuria, Justin Gaethje, and Ciryl Gane, offering the clearest signal yet that all four are slated to compete on what figures to be one of the most unusual events in the promotion's history.
Ilia Topuria, ranked number one pound-for-pound and second in the lightweight division, carries a 17-1 record into the event. The 29-year-old Spanish fighter out of Climent Club lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute and averages nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes, blending elite finishing ability across disciplines.
Justin Gaethje, the current lightweight champion, brings a 28-5 record and the most relentless striking output of the group at 6.48 significant strikes landed per minute with 58 percent accuracy. The 37-year-old from the United States trains out of Genesis Training Center and has never recorded a submission attempt, making his style straightforwardly aggressive.
Ciryl Gane, ranked second in the heavyweight division at 36 years old, holds a 14-2 record and posts a striking accuracy of 61 percent — the highest of any fighter in this group. The Frenchman out of MMA Factory stands six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach, giving him a pronounced physical advantage over nearly any opponent he could face.
Why it matters
- The Oval Office visit signals high-level institutional support for the June 14 White House event.
- With both the top two lightweights — Topuria and Gaethje — present, a championship fight between them appears likely on the card.
- Gane's inclusion points toward a significant heavyweight bout rounding out what could be a marquee main card.
- The event represents an unprecedented setting for the sport, adding considerable promotional weight to each fighter's profile.
Sunday, June 14, 2026
