WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ilia Topuria will defend his lightweight title against Justin Gaethje in the main event of a historic Ultimate Fighting Championship card scheduled to take place on the South Lawn of the White House on June 14.
The event, dubbed “UFC Freedom 250,” will feature six fights and coincide with U.S. Flag Day and the 80th birthday of Donald Trump, a longtime fan of the sport.
Topuria, one of the UFC’s top-ranked fighters and a former featherweight champion, holds an unbeaten 17–0 record. He captured the lightweight belt last year after knocking out Charles Oliveira before briefly stepping away from competition for personal reasons.
Born in Germany to Georgian refugee parents, Topuria later moved to Spain as a teenager and holds both Georgian and Spanish citizenship.
During Topuria’s absence, Gaethje secured an interim lightweight title and will now get a chance to fight for the undisputed championship. The 37-year-old American fighter enters the bout with a 27–5 professional record.
Originally planned for July 4, the event was later moved to June 14 to coincide with Trump’s birthday. Organizers say the event will host around 3,000 to 4,000 spectators in front of the White House, with large screens expected to be set up nearby for additional viewers.
Trump has previously said a temporary stadium capable of hosting more than 100,000 spectators could be built for the event, though current plans indicate a much smaller audience at the historic venue.
The UFC, the world’s leading mixed martial arts promotion, stages fights inside its signature Octagon cage and features athletes competing in disciplines such as boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, and jiu-jitsu.