UFC event at the White House in a weather delay

Adam Hill, Las Vegas Review-Journal on Jun 14, 2026

Published in MMA

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WASHINGTON — The UFC event on the South Lawn of the White House has been delayed.

UFC Freedom 250 was originally scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. local time. No update has been given on a potential start time for the event to start, but the pre-fight coverage has begun on Paramount+.

The hope is for the card to proceed as planned this evening, starting with a featherweight bout between Diego Lopes and Steve Garcia.

That is still subject to change on a night where the forecast calls for wind and thunderstorms.

UFC president Dana White has often said he doesn’t like to put on fight cards outside because of all the variables, but agreed to relent in honor of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the nation and the 80th birthday of President Donald Trump.

Friday night’s news conference at the Lincoln Memorial was pushed back an hour because of storms. At that time, White was insistent on pushing forward.

“I’m sick and tired of hearing about the weather now and all the other (expletive) surrounding this event,” White said on the iconic steps of the Lincoln Memorial. “We are fighting on Sunday night on the White House lawn no matter what.”

The event is headlined by an interim heavyweight title fight between Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira as well as Ilia Topuria putting the lightweight belt on the line against interim champ Justin Gaethje.

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