Topuria’s White House Headliner in Doubt
Doubts are emerging over Ilia Topuria's involvement in the UFC's historic White House event, scheduled for June 14th. Spanish journalist Alvaro Colmenero, who originally broke news of the planned main event, has now reported that the chances of Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje headlining the card have "decreased." The fight has not been signed, and geopolitical concerns appear to be a driving factor behind the shift.
The Problem
The reasoning behind the uncertainty is an uncomfortable one. Colmenero raised the question of whether Trump's advisors would approve of a Spanish-Georgian fighter headlining an event celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence, particularly one with a high probability of knocking out the American star. Gaethje recently captured interim Lightweight gold by defeating Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324, setting up what seemed like a natural unification bout. For now, that plan appears to be on shaky ground. If the White House card falls through for Topuria, International Fight Week in July has been mentioned as a backup option.
Who Else Could Headline?
With the main event now up in the air, several names are in the mix. Jon Jones and Conor McGregor have both expressed interest in the card, though Dana White has been reluctant to book Jones due to trust issues, and McGregor's return feasibility has been complicated by the UFC's new Paramount+ deal. Meanwhile, Amanda Nunes has called for her rescheduled Women's Bantamweight title fight against Kayla Harrison to be added to the card after it was pulled from UFC 324. That matchup is generating real interest as a potential co-main or even headline slot. Alex Pereira has already suggested on social media that the White House is a "no go" for him, narrowing the options further.
