Tonight, a truly unprecedented event takes place on the White House, as seven UFC fights play out on the South Lawn.
The fight card is meant as a celebration of 250 years of the US, but it coincides with the 80th birthday of Donald Trump, a close friend of UFC chief Dana White.
Six of the seven fights feature American athletes, and the action culminates in two title bouts: Ilia Topuria’s lightweight defence against interim champion Justin Gaethje, and an interim heavyweight title fight between Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane.
Among the other stars competing are “Sugar” Sean O’Malley and Michael Chandler, while controversial heavyweight Josh Hokit (who mocked Topuria’s divorce this week, before pretending to throw up at the weigh-ins) faces Trump’s favourite fighter, Derrick Lewis.
The fight night follows Friday’s press conference at the Lincoln Memorial, and Saturday’s weigh-in in the Ellipse park. Follow live updates and results from UFC Freedom 250, below.
Read MoreMeet Ilia Topuria, the stone-cold fighter headlining the UFC’s remarkable White House event
UFC White House fighter throws up at weigh-in: ‘So what? I was drinking’
UFC Freedom 250 LIVE
- White House hosts UFC fights to celebrate 250 years of US and Donald Trump’s 80th birthday
- Fights stream live on Paramount+, TNT Sports and HBO Max after weather delay
- Diego Lopes knocks Steve Garcia out cold in first fight of the night
- Bo Nickal follow suit by knocking out Kyle Daukaus in all-American clash
- Main event: Lightweight champion Ilia Topuria vs interim champion Justin Gaethje
- Co-main event: Alex Pereira fights Ciryl Gane for interim heavyweight title
- Divisive heavyweight Josh Hokit takes on Trump's favourite fighter Derrick Lewis
- American star Sean O’Malley faces Canada's Aiemann Zahabi at bantamweight
- Ex-Conor McGregor rival Michael Chandler in lightweight bout with Mauricio Ruffy
Bo Nickal speaks on victory over Kyle Daukaus
02:34 , Alex PattleBo Nickal def. Kyle Daukaus via first-round TKO (4:34)
“It feels amazing, first and foremost I’ve gotta thank President Trump for making this happen, thank you Dana, all the UFC.
“This is unbelievable. It takes such a special person to have the balls to do something like this, I have so much respect for him.
“I visualised about 100 different ways to finish that guy, and I’m just grateful.”
Bo Nickal knocks out Kyle Daukaus in round one!
02:29 , Alex PattleRound one
Daukaus keeps his body triangle tight, as Nickal struggles to pass the guard.
Eventually, though, Daukaus is able to make space and land another big elbow!
But referee Jason Herzog pauses the action and stands the fighters up?! Nickal is understandably unhappy.
Decent left hook from Daukaus, but he walks onto a straight punch. Daukaus needs to make this time count now.
Nickal skims a head kick off Daukaus’s head, then tags him with a right hook, and Daukaus drops! Oh, he turtles up, and it’s waved off!!
Nickal speaks to Trump at ringside.
Bo Nickal vs Kyle Daukaus
02:26 , Alex PattleRound one
Both men stand southpaw. Nickal misses with a compact overhand, and then another, but he grabs Daukaus off that entry – lifting and dumping his fellow American to the mat!
Daukaus seems to toy with the idea of a buggy choke, but he doesn’t commit. Nickal with some harsh elbows now, and Daukaus is cut already!
Daukaus is mainly trying to keep Nickal close, not allowing him space to work.
Bo Nickal vs Kyle Daukaus up next
02:20 , Alex Pattle"I'm digging this live music," says Joe Rogan while incessantly talking over it, as a band plays out Bo Nickal.
Bo Nickal vs Kyle Daukaus up next
02:14 , Alex PattleThe broadcast is moving swiftly on!
Next up is an all-American bout, as Bo Nickal fights Kyle Daukaus at middleweight.
Nickal predominantly likes to wrestle, but he has fallen in love with his striking a bit in recent times. So, this one could play out in a number of different ways.
Daukaus is back in the UFC after being released, and he’s riding high at the moment. Nickal will be well fancied here, but Daukaus is a “live dog”, as the Americans say.
Diego Lopes speaks on victory over Steve Garcia
02:10 , Alex PattleLopes: “Bro, this is unbelievable, you know?
“If you come in the middle of the cage and try to fight with me, sorry guys, I’m knocking everybody out.”
Diego Lopes def. Steve Garcia via second-round KO (punches, 2:42)
WHAT a photo this is...
Diego Lopes lands huge comeback KO on Steve Garcia!
02:04 , Alex PattleRound two
Garcia blocks another front kick to the body. Now he steps back to evade a high kick. Decent jab by Lopes.
Garcia lands cross then a jab. He slips off the centre line to avoid an overhand, then tags Lopes with a hardddd cross. Lopes’s legs buckled slightly there.
Another good jab from Garcia, who is glanced by a cross.
OH! A huge left hook has Garcia out on his feet out of nowhere!!
Lopes with more shots in a wild exchange, both men are landing... and DOWN GOES GARCIA from another left hook!
Ground and pound puts him out! Lopes with a comeback KO win, wowwww.
Diego Lopes vs Steve Garcia
01:59 , Alex PattleRound one
There’s a “let’s go, Lopes” chant! The Brazilian getting the support over the US fighter...
Hard uppercut by Garcia from a long way out, but he’s tagged on the way in and stumbles off balance.
Another uppercut by Garcia, but Lopes digs to the body well.
Garcia blocks a front kick to the body. Hard southpaw cross from Garcia, who wins the first round for me.
Diego Lopes vs Steve Garcia
01:57 , Alex PattleRound one
A “USA” chant precedes the action, and we’re under way. Lopes stands orthodox; Garcia is southpaw. Lots of feints from both men’s jab hands, then Garcia blocks a high kick.
Great uppercut by Garcia, but Lopes eats it well! Another hard shot by Garcia, but Lopes fires back. Lopes with a lazy takedown attempt or feint, then a front kick to the body.
Pawing lead hook by Garcia then an oblique kick. Fast pace, strange atmosphere – it’s quiet. Commentary has cut out...
Question-mark kick upstairs by Garcia after a body kick from Lopes, who then kicks high.
Diego Lopes joins Garcia in the cage, here we go...
01:51 , Alex PattleGet ready, folks. If you’re new to MMA, this is a hell of a fight to introduce you to the sport. It could be wild.
Jon Anik and Joe Rogan lead broadcast as fighters arrive
01:41 , Alex PattleUFC commentary stalwart Jon Anik is leading the broadcast along with Joe Rogan and ex-UFC champion Daniel Cormier.
Fighters are being filmed arriving, but we already know Diego Lopes and Steve Garcia have had their hands wrapped before the night’s first bout.
Sean Strickland removed by Secret Service amid ban
01:38 , Alex PattleControversial UFC champion Sean Strickland claimed he was banned from this week’s events, and he’s been pictured getting removed by Secret Service!
Banned UFC fighter removed from White House event by US Secret Service
Trump and White arrive! Surreal scene
01:26 , Alex PattleDana White and Donald Trump have been filmed walking through the White House, and now they’re on the balcony before the South Lawn.
This is surreal.
Eric Trump denies he messaged Daniel Cormier asking if fights were 'rigged'
01:23 , Alex PattleAlleged screenshots did the rounds tonight, appearing to show UFC champion-turned-commentator Daniel Cormier exchanging messages with Donald Trump’s son Eric, who seemed to ask whether any of the fights are “rigged”.
However, Eric Trump has now said that these screenshots were AI images. He denies they were real.
We are aware of the fake, AI generated screenshots being circulated online. I have never spoken to Daniel. He has since deleted his post, which confirms it was clearly fabricated. @UFC @danawhite
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) June 15, 2026
Will tonight's fights be cancelled due to severe weather?
01:10 , Alex PattleWell, here’s what UFC chief Dana White said on Friday...
“Listen, the show goes on on Sunday, no matter what happens.
“We’re going. I don’t care if it rains, snows. I’m sick and tired of hearing about all the weather now, and all the other bulls*** surrounding this event.
“WE ARE FIGHTING ON SUNDAY NIGHT ON THE WHITE HOUSE LAWN, no matter what!”
Broadcast about to begin but first fight’s start time is ‘fluid’
Monday 15 June 2026 00:55 , Alex PattleThe broadcast is about to begin, but a UFC representative told Uncrowned that the “official time for the first fight remains fluid”, although the aim is 2am BST / 6pm PT / 8pm CT / 9pm ET.
Is the UFC White House fight card good enough? Here are our grades
Monday 15 June 2026 00:47 , Alex PattleWe graded every fight on tonight’s card, as well as the event overall.
What do you think? Were we harsh or fair?
I think my stance might have softened slightly since the fights were first announced...
Is the UFC’s White House card good enough? Grading every fight
UFC Freedom 250 fight card in full
Monday 15 June 2026 00:39 , Alex PattleSubject to change; ‘C’ denotes champion:
Ilia Topuria (C) vs Justin Gaethje (lightweight title)
Alex Pereira vs Ciryl Gane (interim heavyweight title)
Sean O’Malley vs Aiemann Zahabi (bantamweight)
Derrick Lewis vs Josh Hokit (heavyweight)
Mauricio Ruffy vs Michael Chandler (lightweight)
Bo Nickal vs Kyle Daukaus (middleweight)
Diego Lopes vs Steve Garcia (featherweight)
How to watch UFC Freedom 250 tonight
Monday 15 June 2026 00:31 , Alex PattleThe event will stream live on Paramount+ in the US and UK. TNT Sports and HBO Max also allow access to the fights in the UK.
It was thought that CBS could show some of the action in the US, but Dana White said at the final pre-fight press conference: “It’s very simple, it’s on Paramount+. The whole show is on Paramount+.”
Here’s why Conor McGregor isn’t fighting tonight
Monday 15 June 2026 00:18 , Alex PattleConor McGregor is scheduled to make his return to the cage next month, fighting Max Holloway on 11 July in Las Vegas – a few days before the Irishman turns 38.
McGregor was keen to fight on tonight’s card at the White House, but the UFC was always likely to put him on a separate event.
That way, it’s a double whammy; ideally, the promotion draws some Paramount+ subscriptions for tonight’s show, and some extra when McGregor fights next month.
This is especially important given the UFC is operating at a loss of $60m tonight (taxpayer money is NOT funding the White House event).
McGregr has not fought in five years, by the way, since breaking his leg in a 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier.
Inside the UFC White House fighters’ locker rooms
Sunday 14 June 2026 23:53 , Alex PattleThe UFC White House locker room setup 👀 pic.twitter.com/lbs35Kv1yj
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 14, 2026
Did Hokit force press conference to end with divorce reference?
Sunday 14 June 2026 23:45 , Alex PattleDana White abruptly ended Friday’s press conference after Hokit insulted Ilia Topuria over the Spanish-Georgian’s recent divorce.
It was the second mention of that personal matter this week, after Justin Gaethje hinted at it in an interview.
“What an annoying little b*****d,” said Gaethje of Topuria, whom he fights tonight. “I couldn’t imagine being in a room with him for 30 minutes, listening to him talk about himself.
“And I can say this: I would leave him. That’s all I’m saying: I would leave him. No way I would put up with his s***.”
Topuria fired back on X: “Justin crossed a line. What happened between my ex-wife and me is our business. We may no longer be together, but she is the mother of my daughter.”
More here:
UFC White House fighters Topuria and Gaethje trade insults about ‘divorce’ and family
Saturday: Josh Hokit appears to throw up at weigh-in – ‘I was drinking’
Sunday 14 June 2026 23:30 , Alex PattleJosh Hokit stole the show at the Saturday morning weigh-in, having done the same at Friday’s press conference.
On Friday evening, fighters shared a stage in front of the Lincoln Memorial, with Hokit chiming in at every opportunity – regardless of who had been asked a question.
And on Saturday morning, as the fighters weighed in before a crowd of media personnel, Hokit seemingly pretended to throw up, as he dribbled a sick-coloured liquid from his mouth.
“So what? Maybe I was drinking last night,” the American heavyweight told those in the room. “Who wouldn’t be?
“I’ve got a giant man who wants to knock me out. He has the most knockouts in UFC history,” Hokit added, referencing his opponent Derrick Lewis.
More here:
UFC White House fighter appears to throw up at weigh-in: ‘So what? I was drinking’
Don’t be fooled by UFC White House glitz – not all is well in Dana White’s world
Sunday 14 June 2026 23:15 , Alex PattleWhen UFC Freedom 250 plays out, with few actual fans ringside but 85,000 watching on big screens in the nearby Ellipse park, it will be glitz and glamour galore.
Mr Trump’s close friend Dana White, the UFC’s president and CEO, has said that TV-production awards should be abolished altogether if this event wins none.
It’s hyperbole, of course, to which White is more than prone, but it’s also curious because of how starkly it stands in contrast to the UFC’s weekly product.
Over the last couple of years, the UFC has come under increasing criticism for its output. A peak has passed, it feels.
Full comment:
Don’t be fooled by the UFC White House glitz – all is not well in Dana White’s world
Trump loves crashing sports events – thanks to the UFC, he’s got his own
Sunday 14 June 2026 23:00 , Alex PattleAfter a chorus of boos at the NBA finals, the president now has form for disruptive big-game appearances, with similar moments at the Ryder Cup and US Open last year.
But Trump can now watch his friend Dana White’s event from his own back garden, far from detractors...
Full comment:
Trump loves crashing sports events – thanks to the UFC, he’s got his own with a twist
Judge rejected bid to block Trump’s UFC fight at White House
Sunday 14 June 2026 22:45 , Alex WoodwardA federal judge rejected a request for an injunction to block the Trump administration from holding tonight’s fight event.
The lawsuit was filed by the Public Integrity Project on behalf of two civic activists, who accused the administration of a "deeply corrupt" scheme to benefit the president's allies.
Judge Amit Mehta ruled that the plaintiffs did not prove they would face "irreparable harm" or be "directly affected" by the event, which they do not plan to attend.
The judge stated that the for-profit elements of UFC Freedom 250 and the lack of congressional approval or environmental review were not new information.
He also stressed that the stage and all other materials would be removed immediately after the fights conclude.
How Secret Service will protect Trump during ‘Rating 1’ threat level tonight
Sunday 14 June 2026 22:30 , Bruce GoldingRooftop sharpshooters, trained dogs, explosives experts, metal detectors and high-tech surveillance cameras are among the security measures the Secret Service will use to protect President Donald Trump during the controversial cage fights he's hosting at the White House this evening.
Former Secret Service agents told The Independent they were confident that Trump — who's been the target of three assassination attempts — would be sufficiently shielded as he celebrates his 80th birthday at the UFC "Freedom 250" event.
Bobby McDonald, who retired as second supervisor of then-Vice President Joe Biden's Secret Service detail, said the White House sat on "the safest 18 acres in America."
"Any event that's on the south grounds of the White House is going to be as secure as you can get," said McDonald, now an assistant professor of criminal justice and criminology at New Haven University. "Look, the president gets the highest level of protection we have, so everything under the sun will be on hand."
More here:
The Secret Service plan for ‘Rating 1’ threat level at Trump’s UFC event
Who can attend UFC Freedom 250?
Sunday 14 June 2026 22:15 , Alex PattleThere will be no general admission for the White House fights, which are expected to be invite-only.
However, fans were able to apply for free tickets to watch the fights from the Ellipse park, next to the White House.
UFC boss Dana White said in May: “[Trump] wants this to be mostly for the military, so there’s gonna be 4,300 people there. I just literally went over it right now; 4,300 people, and most of them will be military. 100 per cent [it’s a ‘thank you’ to the military].
“We’re gonna give away about 85,000 tickets [to the Ellipse]. There’s a process, you have to register for tickets, and they’re free [...] For those who don’t know, the Ellipse is a massive park. Literally, you’ll be able to see the fight[s] from the Ellipse, but we have screens, we’ve got stages, we’ve got music.”
Exclusive interview: Meet the stone-cold fighter headlining tonight
Sunday 14 June 2026 22:00 , Alex PattleIlia Topuria’s opponent, Justin Gaethje, stood with his mouth slightly agape as he looked up, down, side to side, and all around him. It’s understandable that the American fighter was overawed; here he was, standing at the Lincoln Memorial, about to wage a war of words with Topuria before waging a war in the cage on Sunday – on the White House’s South Lawn.
So how comes Topuria, when he emerged moments later, was wearing a smirk?
He told me why he’s so “relaxed” about fighting at the White House, and feeling like he’s “lived it already”:
Meet Ilia Topuria, the stone-cold fighter headlining the UFC’s White House event
Is the UFC White House fight card good enough? Here are our grades
Sunday 14 June 2026 21:45 , Alex PattleWe graded every fight on tonight’s card, as well as the event overall.
What do you think? Were we harsh or fair?
Is the UFC’s White House card good enough? Grading every fight
UFC Freedom 250 LIVE: Welcome!
Sunday 14 June 2026 21:03 , Alex PattleTonight, a truly unprecedented event takes place on the White House, as seven UFC fights play out on the South Lawn.
The fight card is meant as a celebration of 250 years of the US, but it coincides with the 80th birthday of Donald Trump, a close friend of UFC chief Dana White.
Six of the seven fights feature American athletes, and the action culminates in two title bouts: Ilia Topuria’s lightweight defence against interim champion Justin Gaethje, and an interim heavyweight title fight between Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane.
Among the other stars competing are “Sugar” Sean O’Malley and Michael Chandler, while controversial heavyweight Josh Hokit (who mocked Topuria’s divorce this week, before pretending to throw up at the weigh-ins) faces Trump’s favourite fighter, Derrick Lewis.
Follow live updates and results from UFC Freedom 250, below.
