Topuria shoves Gaethje at Lincoln Memorial ahead of UFC Freedom 250

Ilia Topuria shoved Justin Gaethje during a face-off at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Friday, June 13, 2026, as the pair completed their final news conference ahead of Sunday’s UFC Freedom 250. UFC CEO Dana White stepped in to separate the lightweights as the confrontation briefly escalated in front of the landmark.

The incident came two days before UFC Freedom 250, scheduled for Sunday night on the White House South Lawn. Organisers have erected an octagonal cage on the grounds, with Topuria and Gaethje set to headline the card.

Topuria, 29, is described as the unbeaten Georgian-Spanish lightweight belt holder and is returning after a nearly year-long absence. Gaethje, 37, enters as the interim champion after winning the belt at UFC 324 in January.

At the news conference, Topuria said he planned to knock Gaethje out in the first round. Gaethje dismissed the threat and said his experience in the cage would be the decisive factor.

Gaethje also reacted to the location of the face-off, telling his opponent to take in the view rather than “act like an animal,” according to remarks at the event. The shove and brief intervention by White became the focal moment as the fighters posed in front of the memorial.

White House staging draws attention beyond the fights

UFC Freedom 250 is set to coincide with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and forms part of celebrations tied to the 250th anniversary of the United States, officials said. A large structure has been built on the South Lawn to house the cage and production setup for the event.

Earlier on Friday, a federal judge declined to block the event, dismissing a lawsuit filed by two Washington-area residents. US District Judge Amit Mehta said the plaintiffs did not show they were directly affected by the staging of the card and had waited too long to bring their challenge.

A White House spokesperson welcomed the ruling, while lawyers for the plaintiffs said they were disappointed but would respect the decision. The decision cleared the way for the UFC to proceed with the Sunday event as planned.

Main card matches add title stakes to the setting

Beyond the main event, the card is set to include Alex “Poatan” Pereira moving up to heavyweight for an interim title bout against Ciryl Gane. Organisers said Pereira is seeking to become the first three-division champion in UFC history.

“Suga” Sean O’Malley is also scheduled to compete and is set to face Canadian Aiemann Zahabi, 38, according to officials. The UFC’s parent company is publicly traded TKO Group Holdings, which also owns the professional wrestling organisation WWE.

For Topuria, Sunday’s fight is positioned as his return after a lengthy break, while Gaethje’s interim belt has helped set up a high-profile meeting in an unusual venue. The UFC is expected to provide final logistical and security details as preparations on the South Lawn continue.

The card is set for Sunday night, with weigh-ins and final promotional events expected to complete the build-up after Friday’s face-off incident.