Ilia Topuria is set to defend his lightweight championship against Justin Gaethje in the headline bout of the upcoming UFC White House event. The co-main event will feature Alex Pereira stepping up to the heavyweight division to challenge Ciryl Gane for the interim title on June 14, as current champion Tom Aspinall is recovering from eye surgery. Notably, Conor McGregor, who expressed interest in the card, will not be featured and is expected to return to action in July.
Michael Chandler is also slated to compete on the card against Mauricio Ruffy, while former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley will face Aiemann Zahabi. The fight card will be completed by Bo Nickal vs Kyle Daukaus and Diego Lopes vs Steve Garcia.
UFC CEO Dana White commented on the event, highlighting the challenges faced in putting together the card. He emphasized the exciting matchups, particularly Topuria vs. Gaethje, and the potential for Pereira to become a triple champion. White remained open about the future plans for Aspinall, suggesting a potential matchup with Pereira depending on the outcome of his fight against Gane.
The announcement confirmed that Jon Jones will not be making a return to the octagon for a showdown with Pereira, following the Brazilian’s decision to move up in weight classes. The event promises to deliver thrilling matchups and is set to take place in Washington, D.C.