On a night when combat sports fans have their eyes glued to one of the biggest boxing spectacles since Mayweather vs. McGregor, a different kind of headline is taking shape behind the scenes. UFC President and CEO Dana White, never one to shy away from audacious plans, has confirmed that the Ultimate Fighting Championship will bring its octagonal spectacle to the South Lawn of the White House in June 2026. The event, already being billed as potentially the most notorious in the promotion’s history, is gathering momentum—with former double champion Conor McGregor emerging as White’s unequivocal choice to headline the card.
For months, speculation has run rampant regarding who might top the bill at this unprecedented event. With the likes of Conor McGregor, Jon Jones, and the newly crowned middleweight king Khamzat Chimaev all expressing interest, the UFC’s matchmaking brass had a veritable embarrassment of riches to choose from. Yet, in a series of candid interviews this week, White made it clear: reliability trumps reputation.
“I need people on this card that I can count on, that no matter what happens; opponents get switched out or whatever happens; I need guys that I can absolutely count on, that are going to show up that night,” White emphasized in a Thursday interview with Wade Plemons. While he stopped short of directly calling Jon Jones unreliable, the message was unmistakable. The former two-division champion’s recent history—most notably, backing out of a planned clash with heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall in favor of a brief retirement—left White unconvinced that Jones could anchor such a high-profile show.
Jon Jones, for his part, has not taken the snub lightly. In a bid to mend fences, Jones reached out to Aspinall with an apology and expressed his earnest desire to compete at the White House. “He reached out, he wrote, like, a text saying ‘listen, sorry how this all played out’ or whatever. ‘I want to fight at the White House, I’m serious about that’,” White told Zach Gelb on Sirius XM. Yet, when pressed if the gesture had changed his stance, White’s response was as blunt as it gets: “No. I appreciate it, I appreciate him reaching out and doing that. But I need people I can count on for this fight. I know who they are and I know who they are not.”
White doubled down on his position, telling The Wade Concept, “[Jon Jones] is the greatest of all time, I still know that to be a fact. But he’s not the greatest of all time ‘guy you can count on that you know 100 per cent is going to be solid and be there’. Say what you want about Conor McGregor because people like to talk s about that too, but he is that guy. He’s always been that guy, I’ve been in the room and on the phone with him. There are a lot of guys who talk tough publicly but behind the scenes it’s a whole other ball game. When the s hits the fan who’s really willing to go out there? Conor McGregor has always been that guy.”
It’s a remarkable endorsement for McGregor, especially considering the Irishman’s extended layoff since his July 2021 defeat to Dustin Poirier—and the serious leg injury he suffered that night. But White’s faith in “The Notorious” appears unshakable. “I just said, Conor McGregor. Conor McGregor has always been that guy,” White reiterated. If the UFC can pull off McGregor’s return for this monumental card, the spectacle could rival, or even surpass, the Mayweather-McGregor crossover event in sheer global attention.
The White House event, now officially scheduled for June 2026 after initial rumors pegged it to July 4th, promises a unique setting. Attendance will be capped at under 5,000 on the South Lawn, but up to 85,000 fans could gather in a nearby park to watch history unfold. President Donald Trump, a longtime UFC supporter and close ally of White, is playing an active role in the event’s organization. In fact, Trump has already promised a spot on the card to Bo Nickal, the 29-year-old wrestling phenom who recently suffered his first professional defeat against Reinier de Ridder. Nickal, for his part, is eager to use that setback as fuel for his 2026 campaign.
While the full lineup remains under wraps, the stakes are sky-high. White has promised to deliver the “baddest ever” UFC card, with fighters from across the globe vying for a place in what could be the most-watched MMA event ever staged on American soil. The South Lawn, long reserved for state dinners and political celebrations, will soon echo with the sounds of fists, feet, and roaring fans—a scene unimaginable just a few years ago.
But what of Jon Jones, the man many still consider the “GOAT” of the sport? Though he’s been all but ruled out of the White House card, Jones’ influence continues to ripple through the heavyweight division. His longtime coach, Brandon Gibson, is now guiding another potential superstar: Gable Stevenson. The 2020 Tokyo Olympic wrestling gold medalist is set to make his MMA debut at LFA 217, and Gibson isn’t shy about his expectations. “To be an Olympic gold medalist requires sacrifice, dedication, skill, and athletic intelligence. Stevenson was humble on the training ground, friendly and a really cool guy,” Gibson told MMA Fighting. “Stephen is a man with no limits. And it’s a super player.”
Stevenson, standing 185 centimeters tall and weighing over 100 kilograms, has been sharpening his skills in boxing, jiu-jitsu, and grappling. Gibson’s confidence is infectious: “We’ve watched Stevenson do boxing training, grappling, jiu-jitsu and even foundry training. He’s incredibly outstanding. I’m sure he can be a heavyweight champion.” The mentorship doesn’t stop at the gym. Jones himself, despite his own career uncertainties, remains closely involved in Stevenson’s development. “Jones is a great leader. I’ve built a team around him for the last three years, but I’ve contributed to everyone. Knowledge is delivered to all coaches, sparring partners, and special guests visiting the training site. Jones now shares his knowledge of MMA as well as his wisdom in life. He is a true friend to all of us,” Gibson added.
Perhaps, even as Jones’ own path to the Octagon grows uncertain, his legacy will live on through fighters like Stevenson. “Jones wants to raise a young star like Stephenson. He’s a great teacher,” Gibson said, hinting that the next UFC heavyweight champion might just be one of Jones’ protégés. For now, however, the focus remains squarely on June 2026—and the high-wire act of assembling the most dependable, electrifying card in UFC history.
With McGregor poised for a potentially epic return, Bo Nickal hungry for redemption, and a new generation of heavyweights waiting in the wings, the UFC White House event is shaping up as a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. The only certainty? Combat sports fans around the globe will be watching, breath held, to see if the promises—and the punches—live up to the hype.
