Overview
- The June 14 event is set for the White House lawn with about 5,000 on-site viewers and roughly 85,000 more at The Ellipse, which Dana White casts as a celebration of the sport rather than a political statement.
- White dismissed concerns that the card is “too political,” noting past presidents’ sports fandoms and saying “just about everybody on the roster wants to fight on the card.”
- Matchmaking is slated to ramp up after UFC 324, with the promotion targeting a finalized lineup by the end of February, according to recent interviews and reports.
- Israel Adesanya said he would consider taking part only if actual MMA fans can attend instead of a crowd of VIPs and dignitaries.
- Merab Dvalishvili said an apparent White House rule excluding Russian fighters prevents his planned trilogy with Petr Yan, a developing report that could also affect champions Islam Makhachev and Khamzat Chimaev.