UFC at the White House: Dream Card with McGregor, Jones, and More

UFC at the White House: An Epic Event for MMA History

The idea of the UFC organizing a fight card on the South Lawn of the White House in 2026, proposed by former President Donald Trump, generated a wave of enthusiasm in the mixed martial arts world. Iconic figures like Jon Jones and Conor McGregor, both retired or away from the sport, were quick to express their interest in participating.

Although the details of the UFC event in the capital are still uncertain, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that an event for July 4th in Washington, D.C., is “absolutely certain” for next year. White announced a meeting with Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump to discuss the fight plans and promised an “all-time card”.

With an eye on July 2026, exciting fights are in sight. An analysis of possible matchups reveals a card full of legends, historical rivalries, and title disputes.

Early Preliminaries

Jim Miller vs. Edson Barboza: A matchup that could mark the end of two of the longest careers in the UFC. Miller and Barboza, with a large number of fights in the UFC, could leave their gloves in the octagon together.Jorge Masvidal vs. Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson 2: A fight between a returning “anti-hero”, Masvidal, and the always friendly “Wonderboy”. Their styles promise an intriguing matchup.Israel Adesanya vs. Sean Strickland 2: A rematch seeking redemption. Strickland surprised Adesanya in 2023, and the latter would seek to prove that defeat was an accident.

Preliminaries

Miesha Tate vs. Holly Holm 2: The first fight in 2016 changed the landscape of women’s MMA. A rematch that could revive a great story.

Sean O’Malley vs. Henry Cejudo: Two fighters who have expressed their interest in facing each other. With a long history of trash talk, this fight promises to be exciting.Max Holloway vs. Paddy Pimblett: A fight for the BMF title. Holloway, a fan favorite, against rising star Pimblett, in a USA vs. UK showdown.

Khamzat Chimaev vs. Reinier de Ridder: A clash of contrasting styles. Chimaev’s striking versus De Ridder’s grappling pedigree.

Main Billboard

Alex Pereira vs. Carlos Ulberg: If Pereira regains the light heavyweight title, this fight would be a great addition. Ulberg, with a winning streak, could be the perfect opponent.Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes 2: A highly anticipated rematch. A fight that could be one of the most important in the history of women’s MMA.Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 3: McGregor’s return, completing the trilogy against Diaz. A fight that fans have been waiting for a long time.Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria: An inevitable clash. A potential welterweight bout could give Topuria the chance to become the first three-division champion in the UFC.Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall: A dream fight. The American heavyweight champion against the English champion, on Independence Day in the United States capital.