UFC event at the White House underway after 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 is underway after a weather delay.

President Donald Trump entered the temporary venue walking side-by-side with UFC President and CEO Dana White from the White House just before 8:30 p.m. local time, followed about 15 minutes later by the introduction of featherweights Diego Lopes and Steve Garcia for the first fight on the card.

UFC Freedom 250 was originally scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. local time.

The forecast in the region calls for wind and thunderstorms, but the radar appears fairly clear for the immediate vicinity of the White House.

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 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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