Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje set to headline UFC Freedom 250 at the White House

UFC Freedom 250 announced: Topuria vs. Gaethje lightweight title unification headlines White House card

A lightweight title unification bout will headline a historic UFC event at the White House.

The card, titled “UFC Freedom 250,” is scheduled for June 14 and will feature UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria facing interim champion Justin Gaethje in the main event. The announcement was made Saturday during the UFC 326 broadcast.

Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) has not fought since winning the vacant lightweight title with a knockout victory over Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 last June. The 29-year-old Georgian-Spanish star took time away from competition to deal with personal legal matters involving his ex-wife. Now he returns looking to extend his remarkable knockout run, which already includes victories over Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Oliveira.

Gaethje (27-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) will attempt to capture the undisputed UFC lightweight title for the first time in his career. He earned the interim belt earlier this year by handing Paddy Pimblett his first Octagon loss at UFC 324 in January. “The Highlight” enters the bout in strong form, having won four of his last five fights.