Ilia Topuria created the loudest moment of the UFC’s final pre-fight news conference in Washington, D.C., when he shoved Justin Gaethje during a tense face-off in front of the Lincoln Memorial. The incident came after both men confidently predicted victory ahead of their unification lightweight bout, which headlines UFC Freedom 250, the promotion’s first event at the White House. Gaethje, the interim lightweight champion, laughed off the push, while UFC president Dana White stepped in with a smile to separate the fighters.
Topuria, the 29-year-old lightweight champion from Georgia who represents Spain, delivered the sharpest pre-fight remarks. He told the 37-year-old Gaethje that he planned to “knock his lights out in the first round,” adding that he knew he was the best fighter in the world and challenged Gaethje to prove him wrong. Gaethje responded with a line that turned the historic setting into part of the confrontation, telling Topuria to look around at the view and stop acting “like an animal.”
The news conference took place two days before the event on the White House South Lawn, scheduled for Sunday as part of celebrations tied to the 250th anniversary of American independence. The location made the scene especially striking, with the Lincoln Memorial serving as the backdrop and the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets providing a guard of honor before the fighters were seated.
Not every matchup on the card was as heated. France’s Ciryl Gane and Brazil’s Alex Pereira were noticeably calmer during their segment before their interim heavyweight title fight in the co-main event. Pereira, who previously held UFC titles at middleweight and light-heavyweight, is seeking to make history by becoming the first fighter to win belts in three divisions. Topuria praised Pereira’s accomplishments, calling him one of the sport’s greatest fighters and saying he would unquestionably join the all-time list.
The conference was also disrupted several times by American heavyweight Josh Hokit, whose interruptions drew attention away from the main stage. At one point, Topuria asked UFC officials to turn Hokit’s microphone off.
The White House event is being presented as an unprecedented moment for the UFC, combining championship fights, political symbolism and a major public celebration on President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. With the Lincoln Memorial, military fanfare and multiple title fights on the card, the buildup already has the feel of a landmark occasion. But the shove between Topuria and Gaethje ensured that the lightweight main event will enter fight week with even more tension, and it set the tone for what could be one of the most unusual and closely watched UFC events in years.
