Who’s attending UFC Freedom 250? The celebrities linked to the White House event

UFC Freedom 250 features two title fights: lightweight champion Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje, and Ciryl Gane vs. Alex Pereira for the interim heavyweight title.

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Morocco - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S. - June 13, 2026 Former American Footballer Tom Brady and Rapper Travis Scott before the match REUTERS/Mike Segar
Mike Segar
David Nelson
Director AS USA
Scottish journalist and lifelong sports fan who grew up in Edinburgh playing and following football (soccer), cricket, tennis, golf, hockey… Joined Diario AS in 2012, becoming Director of AS USA in 2016 where he leads teams covering soccer, American sports (particularly NFL, NBA and MLB) and all the biggest news from around the world of sport.
Update:

UFC Freedom 250 is a completely novel event for the mixed martial arts promotion.

The event will take place on the South Lawn of the White House as part of the America 250 celebrations, with a specially built arena hosting a seven-fight card headlined by Ilia Topuria’s lightweight title unification bout against Justin Gaethje and an interim heavyweight championship clash between Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira. UFC CEO Dana White has described it as a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle, and reports suggest the promotion spent around $60 million to make it happen. Approximately 4,300 guests are expected to attend, including around 1,200 military personnel.

Unlike a normal UFC pay-per-view, Freedom 250 is not open to the general public. The White House event is being held on an invitation-only basis, with attendance limited to invited guests, VIPs, sponsors, military personnel and other approved attendees. While reports have referenced ultra-premium hospitality packages tied to the event, there has been no public ticket sale for fans hoping to attend in person.

Who is attending UFC Freedom 250

With an event of this scale, attention has naturally turned to the guest list. According to multiple reports, White extended invitations to a number of high-profile celebrities from the worlds of sports, film and entertainment. The names most frequently linked to the event include NFL legend Tom Brady, actor and former wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, comedian Adam Sandler, actor Jason Statham, Oscar winner Jared Leto, filmmaker Guy Ritchie and television host Mario Lopez.

However, being invited and actually attending are two different things.

In the days leading up to the event, several outlets reported that Johnson, Sandler, Leto and Lopez were not expected to attend despite receiving invitations. Attendance for Brady, Statham and Ritchie remained unclear, with representatives either declining to comment or not responding to requests for confirmation.

That uncertainty means the final celebrity turnout may look very different from the original invite list.

How much does a ticket to UFC Freedom 250 cost?

One important detail is that there is currently no public evidence showing which guests, if any, paid for access. While reports have mentioned 250 ultra-premium VIP packages valued at around $1.5 million each, organizers have not disclosed who purchased them, and many of the celebrities linked to the event appear to have been invited directly by White rather than attending as paying guests.

For now, the biggest confirmed stars of UFC Freedom 250 remain the fighters themselves, with Topuria, Gaethje, Pereira and Gane set to headline one of the most unusual events in combat sports history.

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