Ilia Topuria is set to defend his lightweight championship against Justin Gaethje as the headline bout of the UFC’s upcoming event at the White House.
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 is on the mend from eye surgery. Notably absent from the lineup is Conor McGregor, who disclosed that he was not included in this event but is planning a return to the octagon on July 11.
Michael Chandler will also feature on the card, taking on Mauricio Ruffy in a highly anticipated matchup. Additionally, former bantamweight world champion Sean O’Malley is set to clash with Aiemann Zahabi. The six-fight card will be completed by Bo Nickal versus Kyle Daukaus and Diego Lopes against Steve Garcia.
UFC CEO Dana White expressed his excitement for the event, highlighting the competitive matchups and the efforts put into finalizing the fight card. White emphasized the significance of Pereira and Topuria in the current landscape of the sport, particularly with their upcoming challenges.
Regarding the potential future matchups, White remained non-committal about Aspinall’s return and hinted at a possible showdown between Pereira and Aspinall depending on the outcomes of their respective fights.
Furthermore, the announcement ruled out the return of Jon Jones to the octagon, dispelling speculations of a clash with Pereira following the Brazilian fighter’s decision to vacate his light-heavyweight title and move up a weight class.
The event promises to deliver thrilling action, with a mix of established champions, rising stars, and intriguing matchups.