The White House gave UFC its biggest stage ever. So why aren't the fights themselves grander?

The White House staging of UFC’s Freedom 250 was billed as a historic peak, but the reality did not meet the hype. Promoters had suggested eight or nine championship bouts, yet the event on Sunday featured seven fights, headlined by two title bouts that were not the sport’s deepest matchups. Ilia Topuria entered as a heavy favorite against Justin Gaethje in the lightweight title, though he said the test could have been tougher against Islam Makhachev. In the co-main, Alex Pereira moved up to heavyweight for an interim belt clash with Ciryl Gane, as undisputed champion Tom Aspinall was sidelined by injury.

Absent were top stars like Jon Jones and Conor McGregor, and fans gathered at the Lincoln Memorial for a Friday news conference amid rain and wind. Dana White framed Freedom 250 as UFC’s most important moment, with highlights projected on screens near national monuments to mark Trump’s 80th birthday. The piece questions whether the lineup and pomp matched the White House setting, suggesting the spectacle did not fully deliver on early promises.