Makhachev, Nurmagomedov: Are any Russian UFC stars fighting at the White House?
Dana White’s company is putting its biggest stars in this summer’s events, starting with UFC Freedom 250 Topuria and Pereira at the White House.
The UFC has engineered a dream summer for MMA fans — three straight months loaded with the sport’s biggest stars, championship stakes, and historic venues.
Kicking off proceedings this month will be Ilia Topuria and Alex Pereira, two of the most popular fighters on the roster, who will compete at the exclusive UFC 250: Freedom card.
June: Topuria vs. Gaethje and Pereira chasing a third crown
Topuria, the No. 1 pound‑for‑pound fighter, will defend his lightweight belt against interim champion Justin Gaethje on June 14 at the White House South Lawn — a historic setting that also happens to fall on Donald Trump’s birthday.
On the same card, Alex Pereira will attempt something no fighter in UFC history has ever done: win a third championship in a third weight class. He’ll face Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title, a matchup that has fans buzzing.
Topuria turned up the heat ahead of his showdown with Gaethje with a pointed message on Instagram that left little to the imagination.
Alongside a photo of himself smelling a white rose, Topuria shared a series of images with a caption aimed squarely at Gaethje: “The White House, a white rose, and a nap in its gardens. Not many can say that, Justin.”
UFC Freedom 250: Fight card
- Ilia Topuria (Georgia) vs Justin Gaethjem (United States): Lightweight title
- Alex Pereira (Brazil) vs Cirul Gane (France): Heavyweight Interim title
- Sean O'Malley (United States) vs Aiemann Zahabi (Canada): Batamweight
- Josh Hokit (United States) vs Derrick Lewis (United States): Heavyweight
- Mauricio Ruffy (Brazil) vs Michael Chandler (United States): Lightweight
- Bo Nickal (United States) vs Kyle Daukaus (United States): Middleweight
- Diego Lopes (Brazil) vs Steve Garcia (United States): Featherweight
Makhachev lined up for August
It had been suggested that Islam Makhachev might have been lined up to fight Topuria but that was quickly dismissed by his coach Khabib Nurmagomédov: “I think if fights are organized at the White House, more American fighters should be involved. If a Georgian fighter faces a Russian fighter, it’s not interesting in front of the White House. It has to be something like Americans representing a country, and they face other fighters. That’s how I see it,” he said back in November.
So the UFC Freedom 250 fight card will feature eight Americans, three Brazilians and fighters from Canada, Georgia and France - but no Russians.
However, Dana White has Makhachev in mind for a numbered event in August, with the Russian making the first defense of his welterweight title. Although contracts are not signed, the opponent would be Ian Machado Garry, the division’s number one, in a bout that also has strong appeal and has caught the fanbase’s attention. Without a doubt, this is the summer of MMA.
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