The UFC touches down in Washington this weekend for a one-of-a-kind event at the White House.
In the main event of UFC Freedom 250, Ilia Topuria defends the lightweight title for the first time against interim champion Justin Gaethje. In the co-headliner, former two-division champ Alex Pereira moves up to heavyweight to face Ciryl Gane for the interim belt.
Below, we rank all seven fights scheduled for Sunday’s highly anticipated card, evaluating them by their potential excitement, competitiveness, and importance.
7. Bo Nickal vs. Kyle Daukaus
Nickal has regained some momentum since suffering his first career loss 13 months ago. The former standout wrestler scored a Knockout of the Year candidate against Rodolfo Vieira in November, landing a thudding head kick in the third round at UFC 322. Now he’s looking to make it two straight and potentially earn a spot in the middleweight rankings with a win over Daukaus. However, some fans may have wanted to see Nickal face a bigger name.
6. Diego Lopes vs. Steve Garcia
This is the first fight of the night and should set the tone for the rest of the event. Lopes, the No. 2-ranked featherweight, is looking to rebound after once again coming up short in a title bout against Alexander Volkanovski. Garcia, No. 9 in the division, has his sights set on the biggest win of his career. And neither man is ever in a boring fight.
5. Mauricio Ruffy vs. Michael Chandler
When the UFC first announced it was holding an event at the White House, Chandler seemed like a shoo-in for the card. He’s a proud American and an all-action fighter, making him a perfect fit. The promotion didn’t give him an easy matchup, though, as Ruffy is one of the rising contenders at 155 pounds. The Brazilian won theScore’s Knockout of the Year award last year and is coming off a TKO of Rafael Fiziev at UFC 325 in January. Chandler has his work cut out for him if he wants to deliver another iconic moment in the Octagon.
4. Sean O’Malley vs. Aiemann Zahabi
This marquee bantamweight matchup comes with high stakes and promises an entertaining battle in the stand-up department. O’Malley, the former champion, is seeking his second straight victory, while Zahabi is looking to extend his winning streak to eight. It wouldn’t be surprising if the winner challenges Petr Yan for the 135-pound title later in 2026.
3. Josh Hokit vs. Derrick Lewis
The UFC’s final addition to the White House card is also one of the can’t-miss fights: Hokit, a recent heavyweight sensation, facing Lewis, one of the most popular fighters on the roster. This might not be the most high-level bout of the weekend, but it’s guaranteed to deliver – likely in violent, highlight-reel fashion. The fight also gives Hokit a chance to establish himself as a legitimate title contender in the heavyweight division.
2. Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje
Wait a second: the UFC Freedom 250 main event isn’t even the best fight on the card? Topuria-Gaethje is awesome in many ways, but it’s a bit hard to justify ranking it No. 1 when Topuria is a massive favorite and expected to beat Gaethje with ease. Topuria versus Islam Makhachev or even Arman Tsarukyan would be at the top of this list. Gaethje, on the other hand, doesn’t pose enough of a threat to make this a truly intriguing matchup. Of course, upsets happen all the time in MMA.
1. Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane
This isn’t Pereira against Jon Jones, but it’s a damn good alternative. Pereira, who’s had one of the best runs in the UFC this decade, is attempting to become the first fighter in promotion history to win titles in three weight classes. Standing in his way is Gane, the 36-year-old Frenchman who has been near the top of the heavyweight division for years. Pereira-Gane should be competitive, with the winner hopefully getting a crack at the undisputed title against Tom Aspinall later this year.
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