Dana White denies reports of Islam Makhachev vs Ilia Topuria planned blockbuster fight for UFC White House fight card

For a few days, several reports were suggesting that a blockbuster fight between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria was being planned for a special UFC event scheduled for June 14 at the White House. The proposed bout was rumored to headline the historic card titled UFC Freedom 250. However, UFC president Dana White has now dismissed those claims and clarified that the fight was never part of the promotion’s plans for the event.

The fight card for UFC Freedom 250 has already been announced. Ilia Topuria is now scheduled to face Justin Gaethje in a lightweight title unification bout in the main event. Meanwhile, Makhachev will not compete on the card as he is currently recovering from a hand injury.

Dana White quashes rumors of Islam Makhachev- Ilia Topuria UFC White House fight

The speculation about a possible super-fight began after a report suggested that the UFC had initially planned a showdown between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria for the White House event. The report claimed the bout was close to being finalized before plans changed late last week.

Speaking at the post-fight press conference for Zuffa Boxing 04, Dana White firmly denied the claims. According to the UFC president, the promotion never planned a fight between the two champions for the June 14 card.

Addressing the rumors, White explained that the matchup was never part of the plan and urged fans not to rely on speculation about potential fights. He said the organization only confirms bouts once they are officially finalized and announced.

White also revealed that Makhachev is currently dealing with a hand injury, which has delayed his return to the Octagon. The UFC boss admitted that the exact seriousness of the injury is still unclear. Because of that, the promotion does not yet know when the champion will be able to return to defend his 170-pound title.

White further shared that both Topuria and Gaethje learned about their involvement in the White House card only shortly before the fight lineup was officially announced. The UFC had to finalize the card quickly as plans evolved behind the scenes.

Gaethje also confirmed the unusual timeline in a recent UFC interview. He revealed that he was first told on Thursday that he would not compete at the White House event. However, the situation changed within a day, and he was later informed that he might still appear on the historic card.

Despite the confusion around the fight lineup, UFC Freedom 250 is still expected to be one of the most unique events in the promotion’s history, with the June 14 show set to take place on the South Lawn of the White House.