Overview
- UFC confirmed Ilia Topuria will face interim champion Justin Gaethje to unify the lightweight title at UFC Freedom 250 on the White House South Lawn on June 14.
- Topuria enters as a heavy favorite with an unbeaten 17-0 record and three straight knockout wins, and several pundits have predicted an early Topuria finish.
- The UFC named Arman Tsarukyan the official backup, but Tsarukyan says he will not weigh in because he is scheduled to compete in a wrestling match on June 13, which would disqualify him from serving as an on-site replacement.
- Islam Makhachev has publicly leaned toward Topuria in his prediction and hinted that Topuria’s team knows why a Topuria–Makhachev superfight did not come together for the White House card.
- Tsarukyan’s refusal to fulfill the backup duties creates a logistical problem for the promotion and raises the chance the UFC must name a new contingency or accept greater risk to the White House event’s headline spectacle.