As the UFC preps for what could be its most ambitious event ever – a June 2026 fight night on the White House South Lawn – CEO Dana White is hinting that the fight card may be the best in the company’s history.
Fresh off UFC 322 in New York City, where Islam Makhachev submitted Jack Della Maddalena to claim the welterweight title, White said the Dagestani champion is in serious contention for a White House slot. Makhachev, now holding titles in two divisions and making a case as one of MMA’s all-time greats, publicly asked President Donald Trump for the spot at the White House directly after the fight.
“Donald Trump, let’s go! Open the White House. I’m coming!” Mackachev yelled at the crowd, holding both belts over his shoulders.
After UFC 322, White told the media that the event wouldn’t be framed as “America vs. the world,” despite the patriotic setting or online rumors. Instead, he said the goal is to assemble “the best card we can build,” which may likely include Makachev.
“Yeah, it’s not America vs. The world. [It’s about] what’s the best card we can build. We are talking about him, possibly, GOAT talk here, depending on what he does in his next couple of fights. So, it’s a possibility,” White told reporters during a post-fight conference.
That White House promotion lines up with UFC’s new broadcast era under a seven-year, $7.7 billion deal with Paramount, previously outlined in a report from DX. The South Lawn card will reportedly air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+, marking the end of the traditional pay-per-view model for this special event and potentially opening the audience up to millions more global viewers.
Renderings released by White earlier this year show the 15,000-pound octagon centered on the South Lawn, backed by the White House, and offering an unobstructed view of the Washington Monument. Attendance will be allegedly capped at under 5,000 for VIP seating, with overflow areas and a nearby picnic-style venue potentially boosting crowd capacity to around 85,000.
The idea first gained traction when Trump pitched it at a campaign rally last summer. “We’re going to have a UFC fight… on the grounds of the White House,” Trump said at the time. The White House added fuel to the viral fire with a follow-up post on X in September, reading: “SEE YOU ON THE SOUTH LAWN.”
Interest from some of the world’s most iconic fighters has already poured in.
Conor McGregor posted on July 4, “Happy 4th of July, USA… I would be honoured! Count me in!”
Jon Jones, the infamous former UFC champion, has also been floated as a potential headliner. White said he recently spoke with Jones but declined to offer any further details.
White also says the celebration will stretch into a weeklong series of events – concerts, fan expos, and weigh-ins – planned with the special input from First Lady Ivanka Trump.
Trump told ESPN in October that the fights would take place on June 14, 2026, which happens to be the President’s birthday; however, White and the UFC have not officially confirmed that exact date for the South Lawn fight card as of press time.
With Makhachev’s popularity surging, McGregor campaigning, and even Jones looming, the UFC is now positioning the South Lawn event as a historic showcase for the most iconic fighters in the world.