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
- Main event: Lightweight champion Ilia Topuria vs interim champion Justin Gaethje
- Ciryl Gane scores upset KO win over Alex Pereira to win interim heavyweight belt
- Sean O’Malley knocks out Canada's Aiemann Zahabi before greeting Trump
- Divisive Josh Hokit KOs Trump's favourite fighter Derrick Lewis, labels Michelle Obama a 'man'
- Mauricio Ruffy scores stunning stoppage of Michael Chandler with spinning heel kick
- Bo Nickal knocks out Kyle Daukaus in all-American middleweight clash
- Diego Lopes knocks Steve Garcia out cold in first fight of the night
Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje
05:52 , Alex PattleRound two
Topuria can’t catch either of those submissions, but he ends up back in mount.
Now he has side control, and he ends the round there.
Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje
05:51 , Alex PattleRound two
Topuria’s face is a mess. Gaethje takes a deep breath. Forward comes Topuria. “USA”, chants the crowd.
Topuria is investing in the body more and more. He’s also feinting there, though, to draw a reaction. More measured approach from Topuria in this round, and he’s better for it.
Gaethje eats a clean cross, so does Topuria. Gaethje looks like he’s tiring. Topuria has him against the fence, where he does his best work.
Oh! They’re slugging it out again! Brutal body shots from Topuria now, though, as he regains momentum.
Gaethje goes down from a body shot!! Topuria slides into mount and lands a good right. Now he tries an armbar, then a triangle...
Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje
05:46 , Alex PattleRound one
Topuria’s face is SO marked up. He might have been cut around his right eye.
Gaethje is landing hard shots, but he just walked onto two hard jabs.
Mean cross by Gaethje! Well, well, well... This is not what many of us expected.
ANOTHER cross! And a hugeee overhand. Topuria’s chin is holding up so well, but for how long? Head kick grazes him, but he lands a cross.
Nice work from Topuria at close range, then an uppercut and body shot. They’re trading leather hard in the pocket. Both men are landing BIG shots!
WHAT A ROUND! People expected Topuria to blitz through Gaethje. Nuh-uh.
Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje
05:43 , Alex PattleRound one
Hard jab by Gaethje immediately as Topuria comes forward. He said he expected Gaethje to come forward, but it’s the other way around so far.
More good jabs by Gaethje and a low kick. Low kick by Topuria too.
Jab is still working for Gaethje, who considers a takedown but bails out. Topuria kicks low and hard again.
Another stern jab by Gaethje, but Topuria tags him with a hard cross. Jab again by Gaethje! Topuria with a cross, Gaethje with a hook and uppercut.
Topuria blocks a head kick. The story of the fight continues, in terms of Gaethje’s jab and Topuria’s cross.
Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje
05:41 , Alex PattleThere’s a touch of gloves, surprisingly. HERE WE GO!
Bruce Buffer with the introductions
05:36 , Alex PattleThe main event is just moments away... Don’t go anywhere...
Topuria wastes no time
05:31 , Alex PattleTopuria looks very relaxed, quite excited, and he’s moving much more quickly than Gaethje did!
'There ain't no grave that can hold my body down'
05:24 , Alex PattleThat’s the lyrical refrain as Gaethje emerges here. He starts his walk in the Oval Office in a surreal scene.
One more fight: Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje
05:23 , Alex PattleOne fight left, as lightweight champion Ilia Topuria defends his title against interim champion Justin Gaethje.
The unbeaten Topuria, one of the UFC’s biggest stars, is a clear favourite here. After so many KOs tonight, you wouldn’t bet against another.
The Spanish-Georgian enters this bout on the back of three straight KOs of all-time greats, after all. He’s looking to add fan favourite Gaethje to that list.
American Gaethje is always involved in fun fights, but sometimes at his own expense. Will that be the case tonight?
He comes into this one having mocked Topuria’s divorce, and that did not go down well with “El Matador”.
Gane becomes two-time interim heavyweight champ
05:19 , Alex Pattle
Pereira reflects on first stoppage loss since 2023
05:11 , Alex PattlePereira: “This was the risk. If I hadn’t taken a risk every time I fought, i wouldn’t be here today.
“We’re gonna sit down and look at it [whether to stay at heavyweight or drop back down].”
Gane becomes two-time interim heavyweight champ
05:09 , Alex Pattle“We did a really great job with my team during the camp,” says Gane.
“I’m really proud of myself, really proud of my team. Thank you the people behind me.
“We know it was possible to do that, we knew.
“Next, everybody knows already. Let’s do that in Paris in September.”
He’s referring to a unification fight with Tom Aspinall, whom he fought to a no-contest in October.
GANE KOs PEREIRA!
05:05 , Alex PattleRound two
OH! Gane drops Pereira with a hard jab, and he pours on elbows and hammer fists!
Somehow Pereira is able to hang on, literally, before climbing to his feet...
And now Pereira is swinging back, but he’s out of it really...
It’s a matter of time, surely; Gane is just trying to find that knockout shot...
YES! A hard one-two, Pereira slumps against the fence, and referee Herb Dean steps in!
Pereira vs Gane
05:02 , Alex PattleRound one
Decent cross to the body by Gane, then Pereira kicks low. Gane with his own calf kick.
Pereira barely misses with a head kick, then Gane launches a body kick.
Gane is out of range of a Pereira head kick.
Low kick by Gane, OH! Then he eats two crosses right on the buzzer!
Enough to steal the round? No, I think still Gane’s round...
Pereira vs Gane
05:00 , Alex PattleRound one
Pereira stands orthodox, Gane southpaw. Pereira throws a high kick early, Gane goes to the body.
More kicks from both men. The crowd chants “chama” in support of Pereira. Nice jab by Gane then an oblique kick.
Pereira is pressing forward. Gane tries a single-leg but to no avail. Pereira kicks low.
Gane misses with a jab and a hook but lands a low kick.
Nice straight shots by Gane, who justttt misses with a high kick.
Pereira vs Gane
04:56 , Alex PattleHERE WE GO! Interim heavyweight gold up for grabs.
Pereira vs Gane moments away
04:45 , Alex PattleDon’t go anywhere!
France’s Gane has just made his ring walk, and Brazil’s Pereira is up next.
Although Gane is the only natural heavyweight of the two, and Pereira is a former middleweight and light-heavyweight, it’s Pereira who weighed in heavier (261lb to Gane’s 258lb).
Another video package in the meantime
04:38 , Alex PattleThere’s another of those video packages, which are vaguely telling the story of the United States’s history, before the next fight.
Two more fights tonight, folks.
Alex Pereira vs Ciryl Gane next with interim title on the line
04:34 , Alex PattleNext up is the co-main event, as Alex Pereira fights Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title.
Pereira is aiming to become the first three-weight UFC champion ever, while Gane is aiming to become a two-time interim heavyweight champion.
Given every fight has ended by KO tonight, does that bode well for Pereira’s trademark knockout abilities? Or can Gane maintain the range and win a decision?
Those feel the two likeliest outcomes, but of course, anything can happen in this sport.
O'Malley salutes crowd while opponent falls to mat
04:29 , Alex PattleSean O’Malley def. Aiemann Zahabi via second-round TKO (punches, 4:02)
O’Malley saluted the crowd while Zahabi fell to the mat. He then spoke to Trump at ringside
O’Malley to Joe Rogan: “Manifestation is a real thing. I’ve seen this before.” He watches back his KO. “Ah, that was sexy.”
He calls for a shot at champion Petr Yan, over whom he holds a past win.
He then speaks to Mark Zuckerbeg on his way out of the cageside area.
Sean O'Malley gets KO he craved against Aiemann Zahabi
04:21 , Alex PattleRound two
Zahabi is almost running forwards with hard low kicks, now and then. That’s been his best weapon, and it might be taking a toll on O’Malley.
But O’Malley is still doing most of the best work here, and he’s bloodied up Zahabi’s nose.
OH! And finally he scores the knockdown with a jab. Zahabi scrambles back up, but another knockdown follows from a one-two, and it’s all over!
Sean O'Malley vs Aiemann Zahabi
04:15 , Alex PattleRound one
O’Malley stands southpaw and presses forward. Now he goes orthodox. Zahabi switches stances back and forth, too. “O’Malley” is the chant from the crowd.
Not too much thrown so far, but O’Malley continues to pressure. He’s trying to draw some counters out of Zahabi, so that he can counter himself.
Decent cross to the body by O’Malley. Zahabi kicks low. O’Malley chases and jabs. Another cross to the body by Sugar. Zahabi with a left hand up top.
O’Malley starts to find his range late in the round, concerning Zahabi with shots off both wings.
O'Malley desperate for first KO since 2023
04:05 , Alex PattleFormer bantamweight champ O’Malley is one of the UFC’s biggest stars and is famous for his KOs – or was...
He hasn’t scored one since 2023, and he’s said he MUST land one tonight to stay relevant.
To be honest, he’ll likely get a title shot next if he wins tonight, no matter how he gets it done.
Sean O'Malley vs Aiemann Zahabi next up
04:01 , Alex Pattle“Sugar” Sean O’Malley steps out for the USA next, taking on Canada’s Aiemann Zahabi.
Josh Hokit swears, calls out Pereira, and labels Michelle Obama a man
03:55 , Alex PattleHokit: “I’m the man with the plan, the beast that’s ready to feast.
“You know what? F*** the speech.
“Shoutout to Trump for having the balls to put some s*** like this on.
“And if I’m gonna say anything, there’s only one person more incredible than the ‘Incredible Hoke’, and that’s my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.”
He then calls out Alex Pereira, who fights later tonight, before claiming Michelle Obama is a man. Brilliant.
Josh Hokit stops Trump's favourite fighter Derrick Lewis
03:48 , Alex PattleThere’s a loud “Lewis” chant, but it’s still almost all Hokit.
He shows off some quick hands in punching combinations, and Lewis looks like he’s in trouble.
Good clinch work from Hokit, too.
Hokit is now landing his right cross at will from range.
Oh! Lewis finally goes down, and this one is waved off!
Josh Hokit vs Derrick Lewis
03:45 , Alex PattleRound one
Big elbow from Hokit from on top, then another slashing one. He’s got Lewis on the canvas and by the fence.
Lewis tries to explode up, but Hokit drags his legs away and then lands a punch. And another.
Hokit slides into mount. He’s controlling Lewis’s hands and picking his moments to throw shots.
The crowd gets excited as Lewis starts to stand, but he soon falls. It looks like one of those elbows has cut Lewis around his left eye.
OH! Hokit suddenly attacks an armbar, he’s got the arm fully extended, but Lewis isn’t tapping...
20 seconds left in the round... Somehow Lewis survives!
Josh Hokit vs Derrick Lewis
03:40 , Alex PattleRound one
So many fans would love Lewis to end the Hokit hype tonight. Hokit tends to play characters, and he really gets on people’s nerves.
Lots of kicks from Hokit early on, including some quite acrobatic heel kicks – he slips after one and scrambles back to his feet! He’s 30lb lighter, much quicker than Lewis.
Hokit looks wary of Lewis’s power, but he’s still pressing forward.
Double-leg takedown from Hokit!
Hokit emerges to Hulk Hogan's theme song
03:33 , Alex PattleA band is playing the walkout music of WWE icon Hulk Hogan, who died last year, as Hokit emerges.
As usual, Hokit is wearing a USA bandana and sunglasses.
Lewis the record-breaker
03:32 , Alex PattleAt 41 years old, Lewis is seemingly near the end of his career, and a lack of motivation has been perceptible in recent times.
However, his 16 knockouts are a UFC record. So, he could definitely take out Hokit here.
Still, 28-year-old Hokit is the betting favourite.
Trump personally requested this fight
03:28 , Alex PattleAfter watching from ringside in April as Hokit beat Curtis Blaydes in an instant classic, Trump requested that Hokit be added to tonight’s card.
By the end of that evening in Miami, Hokit had been paired with Lewis, who is Trump’s favourite fighter.
Next: Controversial Josh Hokit faces Trump's favourite fighter
03:24 , Alex PattleNext, Trump’s favourite fighter Derrick Lewis takes on the divisive Josh Hokit.
Hokit seemingly caused the abrupt ending of the press conference on Friday after insulting Topuria’s divorce, and he pretended to throw up at yesterday’s weigh-in.
An odd bloke, who gets people talking...
Ruffy asks partner to marry him
03:17 , Alex PattleMauricio Ruffy def. Michael Chandler via first-round TKO (spinning heel kick, 4:29)
“Great fight, great fight,” Trump tells Ruffy, as the Brazilian tries to speak to him through the cage.
Ruffy then speaks to Joe Rogan via a translator and says he believes he’s next up for a title shot. Tonight’s main event is a lightweight title bout...
Ruffy then asks his partner is she’ll marry him, although he did call her his wife already... Maybe that was a mistranslation.
Either way, what a place to ask!
Mauricio Ruffy scores stunning KO of Michael Chandler
03:10 , Alex PattleFun fight so far. Ruffy is dialing up the pressure; he has Chandler looking nervous against the fence. Spinning heel kick is blocked by Chandler BUT he felt it...
Now a takedown from Chandler, but Ruffy slips free and hurts him! Ruffy adds a body shot then a right upstairs.
Chandler shoots for a takedown, but Ruffy sprawls.
OH! Another spinning heel kick, and down goes Chandler! Ruffy with a HARD uppercut to a kneeling Chandler, and the ref steps in.
It’s all over. Three fights, three KOs.
Tyson Fury teases big announcement
02:49 , Alex PattleThis is the first time since 2021 that the British boxer has been in the USA.
“It’s been a long time and boy, oh boy, am I happy to be here.
“Freedom at the White House, and Trump’s birthday, what an event.”
Fury teases an announcement involving Dana White – possibly Fury signing with White’s Zuffa Boxing?! – but he won’t reveal anything yet.
Fury is wearing a “Donald Trump For Prime Minister” cap, by the way.
Bo Nickal stops fellow American Kyle Daukaus
02:44 , Alex Pattle
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.
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.
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.
Eric Trump refutes claim he asked UFC Freedom 250 commentator if fights were ‘rigged’
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!”
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)
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.
Judge rejects bid to block Trump’s UFC fight at White House
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
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.
