The UFC has confirmed the start time for this summer’s unprecedented White House card, as well as the schedule for the rest of fight week.
On 14 June, the UFC will stage a fight card at the White House, with the Octagon expected to be built on the South Lawn. The event is planned as a celebration of 250 years of the United States, and it will play out on US president Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.
Seven bouts have been announced, with Mr Trump even requesting one personally last week, after he watched from cageside as Josh Hokit beat Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 in Miami.
While the event was still ongoing, UFC president Dana White – a close friend of Mr Trump – announced that Hokit will face Derrick Lewis on 14 June. Lewis is said to be one of Mr Trump’s favourite fighters, while Hokit’s fight with Blaydes was an instant classic.
Lewis vs Hokit joins the main event, which pits lightweight champion Ilia Topuria against interim-title holder Justin Gaethje, and the co-main event: Alex Pereira vs Ciryl Gane, for the interim heavyweight belt. Other big names to feature at the event, which is named UFC Freedom 250, will be Sean O’Malley and Michael Chandler.
And further details have been announced, including the start time for the unique fight card.
First, however, a press conference will take place at the Lincoln Memorial on Friday 12 June, beginning at 5.30pm PT / 7.30pm CT / 8.30pm ET (1.30am BST on Saturday).
Then, on Saturday 13 June, a fan festival will play out at the Ellipse, a large park located next to the White House. That will begin at 12.30pm PT / 2.30pm CT / 3.30pm ET (8.30pm BST).
Thereafter, the ceremonial weigh-in for the fight card will get started at 5.30pm PT / 7.30pm CT / 8.30pm ET (1.30am BST on Sunday), followed by a concert from the Zac Brown Band at 6.30pm PT / 8.30pm CT / 9.30pm ET (2.30am BST on Sunday).
Finally, the fight card itself will take place on Sunday 14 June, beginning at 5pm PT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET (1am BST on Monday).
Alongside the afore-mentioned bouts, O’Malley will face Aiemann Zahabi at bantamweight; Chandler will fight Mauricio Ruffy at lightweight; Diego Lopes takes on Steve Garcia at featherweight; and Bo Nickal faces Kyle Daukaus at middleweight.
Describing the way Hokit vs Lewis came together, White said in a cageside video last week: “I said, ‘Derrick, the president just asked me why you’re not on the card. Do you wanna fight on the White House card?’ And he goes: ‘Of course I do. Tell the president thank you, I wanna do it.’
“Then the Hokit fight plays out, he beats the No 5-ranked guy in the world, and Joe Rogan says: ‘Is there still room on the White House card?’ Went back and talked to [Lewis]. Hokit vs Lewis was just added to the White House card in the last 10 minutes.
“President Trump built half of that fight, and Rogan built the other half. Both guys have accepted and agreed for the fight, so we’re adding one more to the White House: Hokit vs Derrick Lewis. Pretty badass how that played out organically during the fight [card].”
