Makhachev and Ilia
Topuria reportedly fell through at the last minute.
Interim lightweight champion Justin
Gaethje will fight the champion Ilia
Topuria in the main event at the
UFC White House card, also billed as Freedom Fights 250, on
June 14. According to the latest rumors, the original plan was for
Topuria to challenge Islam
Makhachev for the welterweight title in the main
event.
Irati Prat of Marca reported that the
UFC received information at the last minute that Makhachev
wouldn’t fight at the White House. Prat notes that Dana White had
mentioned a fight falling through, and UFC matchmakers suddenly had
long faces at the UFC 326 ceremonial weigh-ins amid hushed
whispers. Prat further noted that even Gaethje acknowledged that he
was originally told that he would not fight at the White House.
“On Friday night, it was announced that Islam would NOT fight. Dana
White’s comments about a fight falling through and long faces at
the ceremonial weigh-in,” Prati wrote on social media (via Google
Translate). “There’s an agreement: Makhachev vs. Topuria. It’s
going to happen. At this point, Gaethje wasn’t going to fight. On
Sunday, he acknowledged this timing.
“Makhachev vs. Topuria at welterweight is the plan for [the White
House]. It’s the fight Ilia wanted, the one that motivates him.
Negotiations didn’t begin until last week. Ali Abdelaziz tweeted
that the UFC is planning the biggest fight possible.”
Hay acuerdo: Makhachev vs Topuria. Va a
ocurrirA estas alturas, Gaethje no iba a pelear. El domingo reconoce este
timingEl viernes por la noche, se comunica que Islam NO va a pelear.
Palabras de Dana sobre que se ha caído una pelea y caras largas en
el pesaje ceremonial pic.twitter.com/C1e7b1lSLP— Irati Prat (@IratiPratSC)
March 8, 2026
Makhachev vs Topuria en peso welter es el
plan para Casa Blanca. Es la pelea que Ilia quería, la que le
motiva.Las negociaciones no se activan hasta la semana pasada
Ali Abdelaziz lanza un tuit diciendo que UFC planea la pelea más
grande posible pic.twitter.com/hrsfI9h01C— Irati Prat (@IratiPratSC)
March 8, 2026
Quick Pivot
Gaethje revealed that a couple of days ago, it was confirmed that
he would not be on the White House card. However, a day before the
final announcement of the card, Gaethje was told that there was
chance of him fighting at the White House.
“Two days ago I got a call and they said, ‘You’re definitely not
fighting at the White House card’… And then yesterday I got a call
and they said, ‘You might hear something. You might be on the White
House card,” Gaethje said.
🚨 Justin
Gaethje says he was told on Thursday he would NOT be fighting
at the UFC White House eventThen one day later on Friday, the UFC called and told him he might
actually be on the card(via @ufc) pic.twitter.com/WrJGGSpBTa
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS)
March 8, 2026