Dana White Confirms Historic White House Event Fights to Be ‘Dialed In’ In Few Days

UFC CEO Dana White talks about making the last decisions regarding the fights for the White House event.

Dana White Confirms Historic White House Event Fights to Be ‘Dialed In’ In Few Days

Dana White talks about the White House event (via X)

In Short
  • UFC White House event set for 2026, showcasing elite MMA and political symbolism.
  • Dana White promises fights will be finalized by this weekend, with a star-studded lineup expected.
  • White has shifted matchmaking responsibilities to Hunter Campbell and Nick Maynard, distancing himself from contract negotiations.

The UFC White House event is already being hailed as one of the most anticipated spectacles on the 2026 sporting calendar worldwide. The historic card is expected to showcase the promotion’s growing influence, blending elite mixed martial arts competition with political symbolism.

UFC CEO Dana White has openly described the event as a testament to his longstanding relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump. According to White, the organization is working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure it becomes the biggest and most memorable show.

From production scale to fighter lineup, every detail is reportedly being handled with extraordinary care and heightened expectations. White recently shared further updates, promising fans groundbreaking announcements as preparations intensify for the landmark showcase.

White House matchmaking meeting is tomorrow. Mick Maynard flying in tomorrow for it. We will have fights dialed in by this weekend.

Dana White via Instagram comments 

The last time Dana White was this excited came during the unforgettable UFC Noche event in September 2024. Held at the revolutionary Sphere in Las Vegas, the spectacle redefined live combat sports production standards worldwide. The immersive visuals, breathtaking walkouts, and flawless presentation elevated the entire experience beyond traditional mixed martial arts events.

Now, Dana White has boldly promised that the upcoming White House event will surpass the unforgettable UFC Noche spectacle. According to early reports, the card is expected to feature six to seven fights, most of them championship title bouts. The ambitious plan has already attracted superstar interest from Conor McGregor, Alex Pereira, Ilia Topuria, and Jon Jones.

If finalized, the lineup could deliver one of the most star-studded and commercially significant events in combat sports history. Recently, Justin Gaethje asked Dana White to make him vs. Topuria as the main event of the card. 

White has denied granting Jones an opportunity against Alex Pereira, citing concerns about trusting “Bones” in high-profile matchups. Meanwhile, McGregor is confident about competing at the anticipated White House event, consistently posting intense training footage to demonstrate his readiness.

UFC veteran sheds light on Dana White’s latest revelations 

During the Antitrust Lawsuit Against UFC confessions, Dana White clarified that he no longer holds any authority over matchmaking or sensitive contract negotiations. White emphasized that managers could personally verify this shift, insisting he does not communicate regarding fight bookings or financial matters.

Dana White
Dana White (Via Imago)

He explained that responsibilities previously associated with his role have transitioned fully to Hunter Campbell and Mick Maynard in recent years. Following these revelations, numerous fans and respected analysts questioned the transparency and timing surrounding this operational restructuring inside the promotion.

Former UFC welterweight star Matt Brown later offered context, outlining a timeline describing how the internal power shift gradually unfolded. According to Brown, fighters earlier in his career negotiated directly with White, but noticeable changes emerged shortly after 2016.

After the buyout, this is just my own experience, I never talked to Dana or anybody other than Sean Shelby after that. I never spoke to Dana on the phone about anything honestly, which was kind of surprising. I think it just got big, too, right? There’s so many fighters and everybody’s asking for something. 

Matt Brown via MMA Fighting 

Brown explained that he viewed the shift as strategic, noting UFC manages over 600 fighters, all constantly seeking opportunities and decisions. He added that Dana White facing the media daily makes such choices difficult, prompting redistribution of responsibilities to other executives internally.

Former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley echoed this view, revealing on his podcast that he never negotiated contracts with White directly. His comments reinforced claims that modern UFC operations separate public leadership from negotiations and matchmaking responsibilities across the organization.

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