Topuria defends lightweight title as Pereira chases historic third belt at UFC White House

Ilia Topuria defends his UFC lightweight title against interim champion Justin Gaethje in the main event of UFC White House, with the card scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET. The event, staged on the grounds of the White House in Washington D.C., features seven fights and is widely regarded as one of the most significant cards in the promotion’s history.

In the co-main event, former two-division champion Alex Pereira takes on Ciryl Gane for the UFC interim heavyweight title. A Pereira victory would make him the first fighter in UFC history to hold belts in three separate weight classes, and would set up a blockbuster unification bout with reigning heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, who is currently sidelined with an eye injury.

A win for Topuria in the main event could also open the door to a high-profile superfight with UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, adding further weight to an already loaded card.

Weather is a notable factor heading into the outdoor event. According to AccuWeather, conditions on fight night are expected to be hot with a real-feel temperature of around 100 degrees Fahrenheit. A heavy thunderstorm is forecast for approximately 6 p.m. ET — two hours before the card is due to begin — with the risk of flash flooding and damaging winds. The probability of rain climbs from 34 percent at 8 p.m. to 43 percent by 11 p.m., meaning weather could influence how the evening unfolds.

The full fight card is as follows:

Main card
- Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje (UFC lightweight title)
- Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane (UFC interim heavyweight title)
- Sean O’Malley vs. Aiemann Zahabi
- Josh Hokit vs. Derrick Lewis

Preliminary card
- Mauricio Ruffy vs. Michael Chandler
- Bo Nickal vs. Kyle Daukaus
- Diego Lopes vs. Steve Garcia