Dana White Unveils the Timeline for UFC's White House Card
The highly anticipated UFC White House card is set to take place in June, and the excitement is palpable. With nearly every fighter on the UFC roster eager to compete, the matchmaking process is about to kick into high gear. But when will Dana White start booking fights for this historic event?
After finalizing the logistics for the outdoor event on the White House's south lawn, with an expected 5,000 attendees, White revealed his plans. He mentioned that he has back-to-back events with Zuffa Boxing on the 23rd and UFC on the 24th, and once those fights are over, he'll dive into the White House card's matchmaking. This highly anticipated event has been in the works for months, but the timing has been a challenge due to other events that need to be finalized.
White assured fans that the matchmaking for the White House event is fast approaching. He shared this insight during an interview with Stephen A. Smith on his podcast, where he also hinted at the potential for multiple title fights. The speculation is mounting, with lead UFC commentator Jon Anik suggesting that the card could feature several championship matches.
One fighter who has been eagerly preparing for this event is Conor McGregor. McGregor's return to the octagon is closely tied to the White House card, as he aims to fight for the first time since 2021 when he suffered a severe leg injury in his trilogy against Dustin Poirier. McGregor has resumed the UFC's anti-doping program and is already in training camp, stepping away from his other business ventures like BKFC.
McGregor is expected to face Michael Chandler on the card, but the UFC has yet to confirm either fighter's participation. As of now, only two undisputed champions have confirmed fights: Kayla Harrison, defending her bantamweight title against Amanda Nunes at UFC 324, and Alexander Volkanovski, rematching Diego Lopes for the featherweight title at UFC 325. Additionally, Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett will battle for the interim lightweight title, and Max Holloway will defend his BMF belt against Charles Oliveira at UFC 326 in March.
This leaves a significant pool of champions available for potential title fights at the White House card. White emphasized that the event is made possible by President Donald Trump's support, similar to how past presidents have championed other sports.
"When you think about sports, [George] Bush was a big baseball fan, [Barack] Obama [loves] NBA. Trump is a UFC fan," White said. The speculation is on, and the excitement is building as the matchmaking process unfolds for this extraordinary UFC event.
