All articles tagged with #ufc white house
Ilia Topuria’s manager Malki Kawa says Islam Makhachev was never an actual option for the UFC White House card; negotiations ultimately centered on a Gaethje fight after Makhachev was sidelined by an injury, with Topuria still eyeing a future showdown with Makhachev and ongoing talks about pay and terms.
Ilia Topuria blasted Islam Makhachev for missing a potential superfight and not appearing at the UFC White House event, claiming Makhachev cited an injury; Makhachev replied after Topuria’s posts, and Dana White said neither fighter was guaranteed to headline. Makhachev holds the 170-pound belt after beating Della Maddalena, while Topuria remains focused on a future title run and is set to face Gaethje on June 14.
Opening odds for UFC White House show Ilia Topuria as a massive -550 favorite to defend his lightweight title against Justin Gaethje, while Ciryl Gane is favored to win the interim heavyweight title against Alex Pereira (-180 vs +155); the six-fight card features several wide bets, including Sean O’Malley, Mauricio Ruffy, Michael Chandler, Bo Nickal, and others expected to win.
Conor McGregor, who hasn’t fought since 2021, was snubbed from the UFC White House event but still praised the six-fight card on social media, calling it ‘Love it’ and ‘Iconic! Worth every Red Cent!’ Dana White later said a deal for McGregor’s return is not close, underscoring ongoing negotiations as McGregor had eyed a possible BMF title bout while Oliveira’s win over Holloway crowned a new champion.
Jon Jones vented publicly after not being included in the six‑fighter UFC White House card, despite reportedly negotiating to fight Alex Pereira; Dana White said Jones was never in contention, a claim Jones challenged in now-deleted posts, suggesting he’s been released and will be the fall guy. White maintains Jones is retired and unlikely to return, leaving Jones to process the perceived snub and its impact on his UFC future.
Jon Jones says he’s still in negotiations with the UFC to fight on the UFC White House card, keeping alive a comeback bid after un-retiring for the historic event; with Alex Pereira vacating the title and chatter about a Jones–Pereira clash, the path to the White House show remains unsettled but possible.
Conor McGregor plans a June return at the UFC White House event and had hoped to settle his score with Michael Chandler, but UFC chief Dana White shut down the Chandler rematch for the card. McGregor replied that he’s unfazed by opponents, while sources say Chandler remains a potential option on UFC’s radar with no official matchup finalized.
Alex Pereira won the UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 320 with a quick knockout but suffered a foot fracture, which may delay his next fight. He is eyeing the UFC White House event in June, possibly facing Jon Jones or moving to heavyweight, but his recovery timeline remains uncertain.
Conor McGregor has expressed interest in fighting at the UFC White House event planned for July 2026, demanding $100 million and US visas, while also showing interest in bare-knuckle boxing. The fighter, who has been out of action since 2021 due to injury, is eager to return to the ring amid ongoing legal and political controversies.
The article discusses the unlikely return of Ronda Rousey to MMA, speculating on a hypothetical comeback fight against Kayla Harrison at UFC White House, which ends in a decisive Harrison victory. It also covers issues with fighters missing weight, suggesting stricter penalties, and predicts the headliner for the first UFC event on Paramount+ in 2026, favoring a flyweight title fight. Additionally, it humorously considers themed gear for UFC White House, emphasizing the entertainment aspect of fight promotion.