Undefeated lightweight champion Ilia Topuria’s return to the octagon will take place on the biggest stage in UFC history.
Topuria will defend the lightweight title against Justin Gaethje in the main event of a June 14 card on the South Lawn of the White House.
The fight card was announced during Saturday night’s broadcast of UFC 326 at T-Mobile Arena.
“Freedom Fights 250,” as the event has been dubbed in celebration of the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence later this summer, is scheduled take place in a temporary venue on the 80th birthday of President Donald Trump.
Also on the card, former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira will move up to heavyweight to take on former interim champ Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title
The main event will mark the return of Topuria, who stepped away from the sport after moving up to 155 pounds last June to become the 10th fighter in UFC history to win belts in two weight classes.
His absence was revealed to be of a personal nature as he dealt with a bitter divorce, but the 17-0 star posted this week he was ready to make a big announcement.
Gaethje, who owns the most performance bonuses in UFC history and is one of the most exciting fighters in the sport’s history, earned the opportunity to challenge Topuria with a thrilling decision victory over Paddy Pimblett at T-Mobile Arena in January.
Despite many rumors over the past several months, the event will not feature the return of either Conor McGregor or Jon Jones.
McGregor revealed his exclusion earlier in the day on social media, though he insists he still plans on a return to action at some point this year for the first time since suffering a broken leg late in the first round of a fight against Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
The 37-year-old superstar and former two-division champion called it “heartbreaking” to not be featured on the card, but said the reasoning was that the card didn’t need his name attached to succeed.
“I was offered the White House and I know the Administration was strong for me to be there,” he said. “It would have been dynamite. Somewhere down the line, not me ever saying no or it wasn’t enough money or anything, (the story changed) to ‘Maybe we’re going to go with you for (a July card in Las Vegas).
“They don’t usually put me on UFC 200 or UFC 300 or the Sphere. They usually put me on UFC 201 or UFC 301. The White House is going to hit no matter what. Who cares who we put on it? Then wheel McGregor out for the next one and double the economic take.”
McGregor insists he is “eager” to return and expects his opponent this summer could be the winner of Saturday night’s main event between Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.
