5 Burning Questions for the UFC White House Card
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The UFC White House event continues to dominate conversations across the MMA world.
From Dana White’s role in promoting the card and the political implications surrounding the event, to potential title fights for Ilia Topuria and Alex Pereira, there’s no shortage of debate.
We weigh in on five of the biggest questions surrounding UFC Freedom 250:
#1. What do you make of Dana White putting himself at the forefront of the promotion for this event and claiming that he isn’t political?
Lee: It’s kind of weird for Dana White to be the face of this card. Especially with so many good fights and big-name fighters on the card. For him to say he isn’t political is a joke. He made this event happen because the President requested it.
The fighters have made the sport what it is today. But, we have to give Dana his just due for taking the organization from a fad to being seen worldwide. Normally for big cards, the fighters are responsible for the heavy lifting to promote the event. Dana however, has been doing commercials and rounds with the press to promote this event.
I think his actions are to promote the event, but the real reason is because of the President.
Evan: This is something that has been part of the Dana White and UFC playbook for years. They’re focused on making the brand the star, as well as Dana as the figurehead, not the fighters. So I’m not surprised in the slightest in how they’ve handled the promotion for this event.
But Dana pretending that he isn’t political is delusional and gaslighting to the max. He spoke at three RNC’s and helped rehabilitate Trump’s image in the aftermath of January 6th. He’s virtually shoved the current president down everyone’s throats as much as possible.
This entire event too is without a doubt political and a prime example of sportswashing. The claim White keeps making that this is about celebrating America’s 250th anniversary is not true. That’s why it’s literally taking place on Trump’s 80th birthday, not Independence Day.
So for Dana to act as if he or this event isn’t political, is utter nonsense.
#2. Do you think the UFC putting on an event at the White House and being associated with Trump, will hurt them with fans in the long run?
Lee: There are supporters and non-supporters of the President that watch the UFC. I don’t think this will hurt the UFC in the long run because most fans will watch the event to see their favorite fighters and hopefully get a great night of fights as well.
When I sit down and watch UFC Freedom 250, all my political views will take a back seat. I suspect that most viewers will do the same. The UFC’s biggest long-term risk could be the political views of some fighters. One controversial post-fight speech could create a major headache.
I know Dana and the UFC are always preaching free speech. But, sometimes that sentiment comes at an expense.
Evan: I disagree with Lee on this one. The way the UFC has leaned so heavily into right wing conservative politics and the MAGA movement specifically has already started to have an impact on their viewership.
When you constantly force your fans to engage with people and a political ideology many of them don’t agree with, it’s eventually going to have a ripple effect. Telling them to shut the fuck up and deal with it in the way Dana White has too, doesn’t help matters.
Especially when Dana himself constantly claims to not be political, despite the UFC being the sporting face of the current administration and Republican Party overall. You can’t continuously tell lies, gaslight your audience, and expect a majority of them to consistently brush it off.
You’re willingly alienating a portion of your fan base by doing that. Which is inevitably going to do some kind of damage in the long run. Yes many can separate politics from sport. But, the UFC has interlinked the two so blatantly.
#3. If Ilia Topuria defeats Justin Gaethje, what’s more likely next for him, fighting Islam Makhachev or defending against Arman Tsarukyan?
Lee: Ilia recently spoke about fighting Arman Tsarukyan. So that could suggest his next title defense is against him.
The No. 2-ranked lightweight was passed over for the interim title fight when the UFC booked Justin Gaethje against Paddy Pimblett. But, he’s serving as the backup fighter for the White House event. It’s a new role that often signals who’s next in line.
As long as both keep winning, the Islam Makhachev fight isn’t going anywhere. In fact, Topuria vs. Makhachev has the potential to become one of the biggest fights in UFC history.
Evan: I really hope Lee is right and that we can take Ilia at his word. I genuinely feel a Topuria-Tsarukyan matchup is arguably the best fight you can make in the sport currently.
This also might be a hot take, but I think it’s a bigger fight too than Ilia-Islam would be. Especially now with what Arman has been able to do competing in RAF as frequently as he has. He has also been doing constant collaborations with multiple prominent streamers. His presence has just grown massively, primarily with the social media audience.
Combining that with the fact he and Ilia have legitimate bad blood, seems like a clear recipe for an eventual massive showdown.
However, I do believe the allure of chasing a third title in another weight class will be strong for Topuria. A champion versus champion fight between the two pound-for-pound best fighters in the sport, is a huge opportunity to pass up. The growing rivalry with Makhachev is also similarly an easy thing for the promotion to sell.
Ultimately though, I think it would be a massive mistake for Ilia to challenge Islam at 170. The aura he’s built up could be decimated instantaneously in a matchup where I feel the Dagestani stalwart would give him immense problems. So I prefer Topuria opts in on facing Tsarukyan instead.
#4. What would becoming the first fighter to win a third title in a different weight class do for Alex Pereira’s legacy?
Lee: To be the first to ever do something in any sport is a big deal, in my opinion. If Poatan beats Gane for the interim heavyweight title, I could see him being a top five fighter of all-time in some people’s opinion. Although, I would personally say he would be in the top five all time to me if he beats Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall.
Let’s be honest here also, he has been fast tracked to his title shots, never really having to fight his way to the top. But as a fan of the sport, winning a title in three different weight classes is just crazy and so hard to do. A great accomplishment should be commended if he pulls it off.
Evan: It would definitely put Alex Pereira in rarified air for sure. With that being said, as Lee pointed out there are some caveats here that need to be taken into consideration.
For one, he’d be winning the interim title, not the undisputed championship. Secondly, Poatan isn’t beating the actual current king of the division in Tom Aspinall. Defeating Ciryl Gane just doesn’t have the same weight of dethroning Aspinall or even someone like Jon Jones.
Lastly, defending a title multiple times year after year, is far more difficult than moving up to another weight class and winning a singular title. We also have to mention that the three divisions Pereira would have become champion in, are hands down the worst in the promotion at the moment.
So, will it be impressive if Poatan wins a third title? No question. It will only make him an even bigger unique anomaly than he already is. But it won’t stamp him whatsoever as the GOAT of MMA. Multiple title defenses at heavyweight will.
#5. Who has the most pressure to perform well and win?
Lee: Michael Chandler may be under more pressure than anyone on the UFC Freedom 250 card. A loss would extend his skid to four straight and drop his UFC record to 2-6.
Chandler remains a recognizable name, but name value only goes so far when the results aren’t there. Another defeat could put his future with the promotion in question.
A win, however, could completely change the conversation. If Conor McGregor defeats Max Holloway, the UFC could revisit the long-discussed Chandler vs. McGregor matchup.
Evan: Me and my colleague just vehemently disagree on Michael Chandler needing to win here. The notion that the UFC will cut him if he loses, is a misunderstanding of how the promotion usually does business. They’ve kept fighters such as Sam Alvey, Tai Tuivasa, Tony Ferguson, etc…on their roster, despite them losing several fights in a row.
With Chandler delivering fan-friendly all-action scraps, whether in a losing or winning effort, and the fact he’s a company man almost to a fault, there’s no chance he’s in danger of being released.
I think you can make a pretty compelling case though for the other four fighters.
Both Josh Hokit and Sean O’Malley are in showcase fights, which are favorable matchups designed to put them in a position to earn title shots. Diego Lopes is facing a tough rising contender in Steve Garcia, after he’s already suffered two decisive defeats to UFC featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski.
Losing to Garcia would make it basically impossible for him to ever get another title shot at 145. Then you’ve got Bo Nickal who’s solely on this card because the promotion views him as a potential star and he’s an enormous Trump supporter. Getting outclassed again by another crafty veteran in Kyle Daukaus would be detrimental for his career.
So I’d say all four of them have significant pressure to perform and win, especially on a card of this magnitude.
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