Tonight, a unique press conference will take place at the Lincoln Memorial, as UFC fighters trade barbs two days before competing on the White House South Lawn.
Sunday will bring an unprecedented event, where seven fights will play out as a celebration of 250 years of the United States, but also coinciding with the 80th birthday of US President Donald Trump.
Trump is a close friend of UFC chief Dana White, who is expected to be present for this press conference, which will feature Justin Gaethje, Ilia Topuria, Alex Pereira and more.
Sunday’s main event sees Topuria defend the UFC lightweight title against American Gaethje, after fierce insults between the pair this week, while Pereira faces Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight belt in the co-main event.
Follow live updates from the “UFC Freedom 250” press conference, below.
Press-conference stage construction has tourists fuming over blocked views
The fights themselves have not proven the only controversial part of this week.
Lincoln Memorial visitors were met with temporary fencing, stage lights, large monitors and crews preparing to turn the historic location into a UFC press conference site.
The National Mall was bustling with busy crews moving equipment that slightly obstructed the view of the Reflecting Pool from the top of the Lincoln Memorial stairs this week, according to photos posted online Tuesday evening.
“It’s awful,” Trudy Rumbaugh, a visitor from Vermont, told DC News Now. “It detracts from the beauty of the monuments. And it’s obstructive.”
Construction for UFC stage at Lincoln Memorial has tourists fuming
Some visitors have said the ongoing construction for UFC Freedom 250 press conference disrupted their visit to the Lincoln Memorial Alex Pattle12 June 2026 22:17
Judge rejects bid to block fights from going ahead
The big news of the day is that, as Alex Woodward writes, “the fights are on”.
A federal judge has rejected an attempt to block this weekends bouts from taking place, after a lawsuit accused the administration of a “deeply corrupt” scheme to line the pockets of his allies.
A last-minute federal lawsuit accused the Trump administration of giving the UFC “unfettered access” to turn public landmarks into profitable billboards.
UFC has committed $60m to the event, according to court filings. The event is expected to draw multi-million dollar sponsorships as well as revenue through a broadcast agreement with Paramount +, a streaming platform operated by Trump allies.
White House officials say the UFC is covering costs for the unprecedented production, but several federal agencies have “allocated significant resources and manpower”.
Start time for press conference tonight
The UFC has said tonight’s press conference will begin at 8.15pm ET, which is 1.15am BST on Saturday morning.
Saturday evening will then bring the ceremonial weigh-ins, also at the Lincoln Memorial, before the fights themselves take place on the South Lawn on Sunday.
Welcome! UFC Freedom 250 press conference, live
Tonight, a unique press conference will take place at the Lincoln Memorial, as UFC fighters trade barbs two days before competing on the White House South Lawn.
Sunday will bring an unprecedented event, where seven fights will play out as a celebration of 250 years of the United States, but also coinciding with the 80th birthday of US President Donald Trump.
Trump is a close friend of UFC chief Dana White, who is expected to be present for this press conference, which will feature Justin Gaethje, Ilia Topuria, Alex Pereira and more.
Sunday’s main event sees Topuria defend the UFC lightweight title against American Gaethje, after fierce insults between the pair this week, while Pereira faces Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight belt in the co-main event.
Follow live updates from the “UFC Freedom 250” press conference, right here.
Alex Pattle12 June 2026 21:59