The Rock Reportedly Set to Skip Historic UFC Freedom 250 Card at the White House

As the UFC prepares for its Freedom 250 card at the White House, several high-profile celebrities are reportedly not expected to attend.

The Rock Reportedly Set to Skip Historic UFC Freedom 250 Card at the White House

The Rock [via- Cageside Seats]

Several high-profile celebrities, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, are reportedly set to miss UFC’s upcoming Freedom 250 event at the White House despite receiving invitations to attend the historic fight card.

According to a Vanity Fair report, Johnson, Adam Sandler, Jared Leto, and Mario Lopez are not expected to be in attendance when the UFC stages its first-ever event at the White House on June 14. The publication also noted that the attendance status of Tom Brady, Guy Ritchie, and Jason Statham remains uncertain.

Addressing celebrity attendance, Vanity Fair’s Aidan McLauglin wrote, “The event is a real draw for folks looking to curry favor in Trump’s Washington and for DC’s MAGA crowd, which has delighted in the construction of a giant light fixture called ‘The Claw’ that now towers above the White House. But there is one group that may well steer clear of the event: major celebrities.”

Freedom 250 will serve as a landmark event for the promotion, taking place as part of the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations. The card is expected to feature seven fights and draw approximately 4,000 spectators to the South Lawn of the White House. Reports have also indicated that large screens are being installed outside the venue to accommodate additional fans.

The fight card has already generated significant buzz. In the main event, lightweight champion Ilia Topuria is scheduled to defend his title against Justin Gaethje. Topuria captured the lightweight championship at UFC 317 and now has the opportunity to become the first fighter in UFC history to successfully defend titles in both the featherweight and lightweight divisions.

The co-main event will see former two-division champion Alex Pereira compete for the interim heavyweight title. A victory would make Pereira the UFC’s first-ever three-division champion.

Beyond the headline fights, the card features several fan favorites, including Sean O’Malley, Derrick Lewis, Michael Chandler, and Diego Lopes, helping make Freedom 250 one of the most anticipated events on the UFC calendar.

While Johnson is reportedly not expected to attend Freedom 250, his ties to mixed martial arts remain well established. The actor and former 10-time WWE champion has made several appearances at UFC events over the years, most notably presenting the BMF championship belt to inaugural titleholder Jorge Masvidal following his victory at UFC 244.

Johnson has also strengthened his connection to the sport through Hollywood, recently portraying MMA pioneer and former PRIDE FC champion Mark Kerr in the biographical film “The Smashing Machine,” a role that drew significant attention from both fight fans and the film industry.

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Dana White reveals ticket distribution plans as questions remain over celebrity absences at UFC Freedom 250

UFC CEO Dana White recently disclosed how tickets for the event were distributed among key figures involved with the Freedom 250 card.

According to White, United States President Donald Trump received 1,000 tickets for the event, while White and TKO CEO Ariel Emanuel were each allocated 200 tickets. The event’s unique location and limited capacity have added to the attention surrounding the card.

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Although several celebrities have reportedly declined invitations, no official reason has been provided for their absence. Vanity Fair noted several factors that have been discussed publicly, including forecasts predicting a 65 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms on the day of the event, as well as the unusual setup that could leave roughly 85,000 fans watching the action on large screens outside the venue rather than from inside the White House grounds.

The report also noted that the broader political and cultural context surrounding the event has become a topic of discussion. Observers have pointed to Trump’s affiliations and policies, tensions involving Iran, and the patriotic symbolism associated with holding a major sporting event on the White House South Lawn as factors that have generated debate.

The event has also drawn reactions from within the MMA community. Fighters like Sean Strickland and Israel Adesanya have publicly voiced criticism or concerns regarding aspects of the White House card.

Freedom 250 is scheduled for June 14 and remains one of the most monitored UFC events of 2026. Along with the championship bouts involving Topuria and Pereira, attention will also be focused on the event’s attendance, atmosphere, and overall reception as the promotion makes its unprecedented debut at the White House.

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