Ilia Topuria is set to defend his lightweight world title against Justin Gaethje in the headline bout of the upcoming UFC White House event. Meanwhile, Alex Pereira will step up to the heavyweight division to face Ciryl Gane for the interim title on June 14, filling in for champion Tom Aspinall who is recovering from double eye surgery. Notably absent from the card is Conor McGregor, who recently disclosed that he was not included and is scheduled to make his return to action on July 11.
Michael Chandler will also feature on the card, squaring off against Mauricio Ruffy, while former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley is slated to fight Aiemann Zahabi. The event lineup is completed by Bo Nickal vs Kyle Daukaus and Diego Lopes vs Steve Garcia.
In a statement, UFC CEO Dana White expressed excitement about the upcoming fights, highlighting the potential for Pereira and Topuria to make history as multi-weight champions. White acknowledged the challenges in organizing the event, noting last-minute changes in the fight card. He emphasized the anticipation for the Topuria vs. Gaethje showdown, expecting an explosive matchup.
The future of heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall remains uncertain, with White suggesting a potential matchup between Pereira and Aspinall in the future. Additionally, the announcement ruled out a return for Jon Jones, who was previously linked to a fight with Pereira following the Brazilian fighter’s decision to vacate his light-heavyweight title and move up a weight class.
