Dana White Gives Major Update on White House UFC Fight

UFC CEO Dana White said he is in Washington this week to meet with President Donald Trump to discuss plans for a UFC event at the White House in June. The event is part of the celebrations for the 250th years since the establishment of the USA, and who will fight in it has been decided.

White Says White House UFC Fight Card Is Complete

The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s White House event will include roughly half as many bouts as a typical numbered pay-per-view card, according to Ari Emanuel, CEO and executive chairman of TKO Group Holdings, which oversees the UFC. He spoke on The Pat McAfee Show last week, saying the event is expected to feature six or seven fights. White added that the high-profile card, set for the White House’s front lawn as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebration, is already finalized.

Preparations for the event have been underway for months, with the White House remaining committed to carrying out the fights this year. 

Although fans are still awaiting official confirmation of the full fight lineup, Dana White’s remarks indicate the UFC is close to finalizing the event, with the remaining details expected to be resolved soon. White also said he and UFC chief content officer Craig Borsari will travel to Washington, D.C., this week for key meetings with Donald Trump. According to MMA Crossfire, discussions will center on locking in the fight card and reviewing major production plans, including three different broadcast presentation options.

Who Might We See at the White House Event?

With such major news coming from White, while no names of fighters have been announced, many UFC fans are now speculating who is in the cards. Some have noted that the White House event lines up neatly with Justin Gaethje versus Ilia Topuria’s lightweight title unification fight. 

Justin Gaethje scored a victory over Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324 to claim the interim lightweight title. Meanwhile, reigning lightweight champion Ilia Topuria announced in late 2025 that he was stepping away from the UFC to address a personal issue. However, media reports last week indicated that Topuria has since returned to training.

Word has also been going around that UFC legend Conor McGregor could also fight in the event. Previously, he has talked about wanting to participate, but only to the tune of $100 million.

However, retired welterweight Matt Brown voiced doubts about whether the UFC can secure the biggest fights in history for its much-anticipated White House event. Speaking on The Fighter vs. The Writer, Brown said it was difficult to see how expectations wouldn’t lead to disappointment. He argued that the promotion does not have the same level of star power it once did and insisted that Conor McGregor will not be competing on the card, regardless of what McGregor or Dana White may suggest, and said the former’s name is used mainly for promotional reasons.