Ilia Topuria’s next fight might not take place in Washington D.C. as originally expected.
One of the big talking points of 2026 has been the UFC’s plan to hold an event on the White House lawn on June 14th.
A number of high-profile fighters have put their names forward, with Jon Jones and Conor McGregor both expressing interest in headlining the card.
Reports had initially pointed to Topuria’s unification bout against Justin Gaethje being set as the main event. However, recent updates suggest that those plans may be changing.
Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje no longer favoured to main event UFC White House
Spanish journalist Alvaro Colmenero has reported that the likelihood of Gaethje’s third shot at the undisputed lightweight title headlining the White House event has “decreased.”
After ‘The Highlight’ defeated Paddy Pimblett to become a two-time interim lightweight champion, many assumed it was only a matter of time before he got another main event slot.
Few American fighters are as popular as Gaethje, making him an obvious choice for a card marking 250 years of U.S. independence.
Still, according to Colmenero, the bout between Topuria and Gaethje might be postponed to a future event due to “geopolitical and economic” factors.
The journalist wrote on X: “Regarding Ilia Topuria’s fight against Gaethje at the White House: The fight has NOT been signed, and despite being a possibility, the chances of it taking place there have decreased.
“There are several geopolitical and economic arguments against the fight being held at the WH.”
Potential headliners for UFC White House if plans change
If Colmenero’s update does signal a shift in plans, it is not yet clear who might take Topuria and Gaethje’s place.
Dana White has consistently pushed back on Jones’ return requests, while other factors could make McGregor’s appearance unlikely.
Under the new $7.7 billion Paramount broadcast deal, which removed pay-per-view buys and with no live gate revenue from the event itself, booking ‘The Notorious’ for June 14 becomes even less feasible.
Outside those names, light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira could be next in line. The Brazilian star already stepped up to save UFC 300, and his rumoured move up to heavyweight would bring even more attention to an already historic card.
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