Top Fight for UFC White House Card in Jeopardy

UFC has yet to announce any fights for its June 14 White House card, which will be a part of the America 250 celebration.  

There had been plenty of indications, however, that a lightweight championship bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje would headline the event. Only those plans may have since changed.

According to Eurosport Spain reporter Álvaro Colmenero, the fight has not been signed and the chances of it occurring at the White House have recently decreased. Colmenero suspects the Trump administration may not want the show’s main event to feature an American with a high probability of being knocked out by an international fighter. Topuria is a -455 favorite on DraftKings for the hypothetical bout and has knocked out his last three opponents.

Appearing on a Kick livestream with Adin Ross on Thursday, Topuria said he wants to fight this summer but is unsure whether it will be at the White House.

“As of right now, I have no fucking idea what’s going on,” he said.

Outside of Gaethje, who is the interim lightweight champion, Kayla Harrison is the only other current American UFC champion. She is recovering from neck surgery, making it unclear whether she will be available to fight in June. 

If UFC decides against Gaethje, but wants an American in the main event, former champion Jon Jones could be an option. Jones, who announced his retirement in June 2025, has expressed interest in returning to fight at the White House, specifically against light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. 

“Alex, I’d be down to bring the highest skill level to the White House. I appreciate the respect you showed, let’s dance,” he wrote in a tweet posted to X. 

However, UFC president Dana White previously expressed skepticism that the White House card would feature Jones, who has had a rocky relationship with the MMA giant over the years. “If I had to make odds, it’s a billion to one that I put Jon Jones on the White House card,” White said in a press conference after UFC 319. 

The event is expected to cost UFC upwards of $60 million, with parent company TKO likely to lose at least $30 million. 

“I think by the time all is said and done with the event and what we pay the fighters and the fan fest that we’re going to have, that could move north,” TKO president and chief operating officer Mark Shapiro said of the event’s costs during Wednesday’s quarter financial call. “We will not profit from the White House event independently.”

The White House and UFC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.