Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, May 8: The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has officially announced two major championship bouts for its upcoming “UFC Freedom Fights 250” event, scheduled to be held on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on June 14.
The historic event is being organised as part of celebrations marking 250 years of American independence and will also coincide with US President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.
The headline fight will see undefeated lightweight champion Ilia Topuria defend his title against former interim champion Justin Gaethje.
Topuria, who holds an unbeaten 17-0 professional record, captured the UFC lightweight crown last year after knocking out Charles Oliveira in the opening round following his move up from the featherweight division.
The 29-year-old Spanish-Georgian fighter later stepped away briefly due to personal reasons but is now returning for his first title defence.
Gaethje, meanwhile, will get another opportunity to claim the undisputed lightweight title after previous failed attempts against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Oliveira.
The 37-year-old American fighter secured the interim championship earlier this year after defeating Britain’s Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision in Las Vegas.
Known for his aggressive fighting style, Gaethje enters the contest with a professional record of 27 wins and five defeats.
The co-main event will feature Brazilian star Alex Pereira facing French heavyweight Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title.
Pereira will attempt to become the first fighter in UFC history to win championships across three different weight divisions.
The Brazilian previously held titles in the middleweight and light heavyweight categories before vacating his light heavyweight belt last month to pursue heavyweight glory.
Gane, a former interim heavyweight champion, last competed against undisputed champion Tom Aspinall in a bout that ended in a no contest following accidental eye pokes suffered by Aspinall.
The winner of Pereira vs Gane is expected to face Aspinall in a future title unification fight once the British fighter returns.
The UFC also confirmed four additional bouts for the six-fight card:
• Sean O’Malley vs Aiemann Zahabi (bantamweight)
• Mauricio Ruffy vs Michael Chandler (lightweight)
• Bo Nickal vs Kyle Daukaus (middleweight)
• Diego Lopes vs Steve Garcia (featherweight)
The event will mark the first-ever professional live sporting competition hosted on White House grounds.
UFC president Dana White said approximately 5,000 spectators will be accommodated on the South Lawn, while tens of thousands more may gather at the nearby Ellipse park area to watch the event.
According to White, nearly 1,000 seats will be reserved for members of the US military, while tickets for the White House seating area will not be made available for public sale.