WASHINGTON—America’s semiquincentennial birthday celebration kicked into gear June 14 with the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) Freedom 250 Fight hosting seven matches on the South Lawn of the White House.
To kick off proceedings, President Donald Trump and UFC President and CEO Dana White walked through the White House grounds past the new Presidential Walk of Fame before greeting the crowd from the Truman Balcony.
Three-time grammy winner artist Zac Brown Band sang the national anthem, joined by the U.S. Marine Band, while a 12-plane formation of Navy Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds flew overhead.
“This will be the greatest show on earth,” Trump said while previewing the stage in May.
“I think it’s going to be the biggest event we’ve ever had at the White House.”
The spectacle falls on Flag Day as well as Trump’s 80th birthday.
Organizers constructed a 60-foot-tall structure known as the “claw,” with matches occurring in the sport’s familiar, octagon-shaped arena on the front yard of the Executive Mansion.
Fighters walked from the White House to the mat flanked by uniformed military members and Medal of Honor recipients.
The main event, a lightweight title unification bout, featured undefeated UFC lightweight title holder Ilia “El Matador” Topuria, 29, facing off against 37-year-old interim lightweight champion Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje, both weighing in at 155 pounds. Topuria, known for elite techniques and knockout strength, was heavily favored, though the U.S.-born Gaethje is a mainstay in the sport, with high-level fighting intelligence and durability.
Gaethje landed 15 of his first 26 punches, striking with hard jabs and upper cuts in the first round, with Topuria working to balance the fight with kicks and punches while blood poured from his face. Topuria dominated the second round with left upper cuts and hard right hooks, nearly finishing the fight with a series of blows, but Gaethje held on until the bell rang. Chants of “USA” erupted as Gaethje clocked his opponent over the right eye and took him down to the ground in the third round. Doctors were called to the corner between rounds after Topuria said he couldn’tsee out of one eye, giving the fighter an extra moment to recover. Gaethje poured on the punches in the fourth round, finishing Topuria and delivering what announcers described as “one of the greatest upsets in the history of sports.”
The champion celebrated the thousands of U.S. military personnel in attendance.
Fireworks lit up the sky after the match ended.
The president and First Lady Melania Trump entered the octagon to congratulate Gaethje.
Second on the card, listed as a co-main event, was an interim heavyweight bout between 251-pound Alex Pereira, 38, and 248-pound Ciryl Gane, 36.
Known as “Poatan,” Pereira was looking to become the sport’s first three-division champion, having previously captured the middleweight and light heavyweight titles.
France’s Gane, nicknamed “Bon Gamin,” a former interim champion, is quick on his feet and known for his range. The match was evenly stacked, according to oddsmakers.
Pereira opened the match with a high kick, both men exchanged leg shots throughout the first round, and Gane landed hard punches before Pereira responded in the final seconds.
Gane came out fighting in the second round, staggering Pereira and knocking him out with a volley of shots.
“We did a really great job with my team. I’m really proud of myself, I’m really proud of my team,” Gane said.
“The people underestimated me.”
A B-1 bomber flew overhead before the sixth match of the evening, its—power felt by the audience before the sound roared through the city.
Winners of the title bouts received red, white, and blue patriotic-themed belts, adorned with “1776–2026,” 250 stars, approximately 60 carats of diamonds, and an engraving of the scene at the White House.
Fan favorite “Suga” Sean O’Malley was expected to bring his trademark personality to the ring when he took on Aiemann Zahabi for the bantamweight match, with both fighters coming within a half-pound of each other at weigh-in. O’Malley’s quick striking gave him the edge, while Zahabi came into the match with a seven-fight win streak.
The fighters traded punches in the first round before O’Malley landed multiple unanswered shots. Zahabi kicked low and often in the second round, but he ended up on the mat when O’Malley knocked him out with a quick left jab followed by a hard right.
“It’s hard to put into words. Manifestation is a real thing,” O'Malley said. “I’ve seen this before. It’s wild what your mind can do if you use it.”
An undefeated new prospect weighing 231 pounds, Josh Hokit, with nine straight victories, challenged 265-pound Derrick “The Black Beast” Lewis in the night’s heavyweight fight. Hokit brought youthful energy to the ring, while Lewis is known as an elite, lights-out puncher.
Houstonian Lewis entered to the sounds of one of the city’s anthems, the late hip-hop artist Fat Pat’s song “Tops Drop,” as interpreted live by the Marine Corps Band.
Hokit landed a right-hand punch and took Lewis to the ground in the first round, scoring damaging shots to the face before locking Lewis to the mat. Lewis fought back in the second round with the crowd chanting his name, but he grew tired as the fight continued, and Hokit finished him off with a series of combinations.
“I’m the man with the plan, the beast that’s ready to feast,” Hokit said after clinching his 10th straight victory to remain undefeated.
Brazilian lightweight Mauricio Ruffy took on veteran Michael Chandler in a bout in which Ruffy was favored.
Chandler’s wrestling skills and bursts of energy were briefly on display, but Ruffy stung him with spinning heel kicks and a series of body shots and upper cuts to win the fight by knockout in the first round.
Ruffy thanked God and his family after winning the match.
“I’m very happy with this performance, very happy with this win,” he said, before successfully proposing to his girlfriend from the octagon.
Bo Nickal was expected to prevail over Kyle Daukaus in a middleweight battle between the two 186-pounders, while a featherweight match between Diego Lopes and Steve Garcia opened the night.
Lopes claimed victory in the opener by knockout. Garcia landed more punches in the first round and kept Lopes retreating for much of the action after connecting early. The two exchanged jabs in the second round before Lopes dominated with a flurry of strikes that knocked Garcia down and ended the match.
“This is unbelievable,” Lopes said after winning.
“Nobody can beat me in a bantam fight.”
Nickal took Daukaus to the mat in the opening moments of the first round of the second match, landing elbows in tight quarters that cut his opponent’s face. The referee stood the fighters up, but Nickal won by knockout in the closing seconds of the round.
“It wouldn’t be possible without you,” he told Trump, who has long supported Nickal, while greeting the president after securing the victory.
Emcee and commentator Joe Rogan interviewed the fighter after he won.
“I have so much respect for [Trump], grateful to be here, grateful to be a part of it,” Nickal said.
Thousands of military members and special guests sat ringside, while the Ellipse near the White House is set up to hold an overflow crowd of approximately 100,000. Gates opened at 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday for the main event and Fan Fest watch party, which includes a replica octagon, interactive entertainment, live music, merchandise booths, live shows and appearances, meet-and-greets with UFC athletes, fireworks, and more.
The Zac Brown Band headlined Saturday night, with more musical acts featured along with motocross stunts by Travis Pastrana.
Officials with the UFC promoted the fights as the “most historic sporting event of all time,” with festivities coinciding with the nation’s founders signing the Declaration of Independence.
“UFC Freedom 250 commemorates the 250th birthday of the United States with a once-in-a-generation celebration of the American fighting spirit,” the organization said in a statement. “From the revolution to the octagon, this historic event will connect fans through cinematic storytelling and unrivaled competition on the world’s greatest proving ground.”
Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg was in attendance and organizers announced charitable efforts to provide Meta glasses for blind veterans.
Rain was in the forecast, but storms stayed away, and the fights continued without delay.
People around the world can watch the fights live on Paramount+ beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
