Ilia Topuria is set to defend his lightweight world championship against Justin Gaethje in the headline bout of the upcoming UFC White House event. Meanwhile, in the co-main event scheduled for June 14, Alex Pereira will step up to the heavyweight division to face Ciryl Gane for the interim title while current champion Tom Aspinall undergoes recovery from double eye surgery. Notably, Conor McGregor, who expressed interest in competing on the card, will not be featured and is expected to make his return to action on July 11.
Michael Chandler, previously rumored to face McGregor, will instead square off against Mauricio Ruffy on the event held at President Donald Trump’s estate. Additionally, former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley is slated to fight Aiemann Zahabi. The fight card will also include matchups between Bo Nickal and Kyle Daukaus, as well as Diego Lopes against Steve Garcia.
UFC CEO Dana White commented on the event, highlighting the challenges faced during the matchmaking process but expressing excitement for the lineup. He emphasized the anticipation for Topuria versus Gaethje, expecting an explosive showdown. White also hinted at the possibility of Pereira challenging Aspinall in the future, depending on the outcome of Pereira’s fight against Gane.
The event announcement ruled out any return for Jon Jones, the former light-heavyweight and heavyweight champion, who was speculated to face Pereira after relinquishing his light-heavyweight title to move up a weight class. White remained open-ended regarding Aspinall’s future in the heavyweight division, suggesting a potential matchup between Aspinall and Pereira if Pereira emerges victorious.
No dramatic return is expected for Jones, who previously held two UFC titles across different weight classes. The event is highly anticipated, with fans eager to witness the thrilling matchups and potential title implications across different weight divisions.