{"id":2599533,"date":"2026-05-06T14:38:03","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T18:38:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ufc-freedom-250-fighter-says-america-really-values-talent-ahead-of-match\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T14:40:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T18:40:59","slug":"ufc-freedom-250-fighter-says-america-really-values-talent-ahead-of-match","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ufc-freedom-250-fighter-says-america-really-values-talent-ahead-of-match\/","title":{"rendered":"UFC Freedom 250 fighter says America &#8216;really values&#8217; talent ahead of match"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fufc-freedom-250-fighter-says-america-really-values-talent-ahead-of-match%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2599533&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Ilia Topuria, the Spanish-georgian UFC lightweight champion, said he appreciates how Americans value and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >support fighters\u2019 talent ahead<\/a> of UFC Freedom 250 at the White House in June. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tx-gov-greg-abbott-boycotting-major-league-baseball-over-georgia-wont-throw-rangers-opening-pitch\/\" title=\"TX Gov. Greg Abbott Boycotting Major League Baseball Over Georgia, Won\u2019t Throw Rangers\u2019 Opening Pitch\">special event<\/a> was created by UFC CEO Dana White to mark the U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/americas-250th-birthday-will-be-a-commemoration-not-celebration-in-virginia-because-leftists-dont-think-its-worth-celebrating\/\" title=\"America\u2019s 250th Birthday Will Be A \u2018Commemoration,\u2019 Not \u2018Celebration\u2019 In Virginia Because Leftists Don\u2019t Think It\u2019s Worth Celebrating\">250th anniversary<\/a> and will air exclusively on Paramount+.<\/p>\n<p>For the June 14 card, Topuria will fight American interim champion Justin Gaethje, while Alex Pereira takes on Ciryl gane for the interim UFC heavyweight title. The matchup also follows Trump\u2019s earlier interest in holding a UFC fight on White House grounds, and Topuria said he only grew confident it would happen after learning the organizers where building toward the event.<\/p>\n<p>White has said a temporary arena for about 4,300 spectators will be built, with many tickets intended for military personnel, and 85,000 additional tickets will be given for fans to watch from the ellipse via big screens and staging. Topuria also indicated the fighters will warm up in the Oval Office and walk out to the Octagon from there, which will be his first fight against Gaethje.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>Spanish-Georgian UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria said he \u201cappreciates\u201d Americans supporting and valuing fighters\u2019 talents, ahead of his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4551140\/trump-ufc-claw-cage-construction-white-house\/\">UFC Freedom 250 match<\/a> on the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house\/\">White House<\/a> grounds in June. <\/p>\n<p>The first-of-its-kind match was organized by UFC CEO <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dana-white\/\">Dana White<\/a> to celebrate the country\u2019s 250th anniversary and airs exclusively on Paramount+. <\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4557563\/ufc-freedom-250-fighter-ilia-topuria-white-house-match\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>UFC Freedom 250 fighter says America \u2018really values\u2019 talent ahead of White House match<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4557230\/trump-politicians-journalists-react-ted-turner-death\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump, politicians and journalists react to Ted Turner\u2019s death<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4557011\/media-pioneer-ted-turner-dead-87\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Media pioneer Ted Turner dead at 87<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>\u201cWhat I enjoy the most is \u2014 that I appreciate the most here in America is that they really value the talent and they support them,\u201d Topuria said on Fox News\u2019s <em>Gutfeld!<\/em>. \u201cThey appreciate them. And it feels great. It helps you to develop your full potential. And this is the part that I like the most.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Two championship matches are slated for the June 14 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ufc-276-donald-cowboy-cerrone-retires-after-loss-to-jim-miller-i-dont-love-it-anymore\/\" title=\"UFC 276: Donald \u201cCowboy\u201d Cerrone Retires after Loss to Jim Miller: \u201cI Don\u2019t Love It Anymore\u201d\">fight card<\/a>, with Topuria facing off against American interim champion Justin Gaethje and Brazil\u2019s Alex Pereira against France\u2019s Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC heavyweight title. <\/p>\n<p>There are four other fights slated before the championship matches, starting at 4 p.m., according to the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ufc\/status\/2030485076988018772\">fight card the UFC announced<\/a> in March. <\/p>\n<p>The event, which falls on President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s 80th birthday, comes after Trump expressed interest last summer in staging a UFC match on the White House grounds to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. <\/p>\n<p>Topuria said he heard about the event in September but was unsure that it would become a reality. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I first heard about it, I was like, maybe they\u2019re not going to make it happen,\u201d he said. \u201cBut with time, I was seeing that they are starting to develop the whole event and all that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Topuria, who is undefeated with a 17-0 record, recalled finding out he had been selected for the match. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cFinally, I got the call three months ago, two months ago, something like that, and they told me, you\u2019re going to be part of the event. I was like, \u2018Thank you very much,\u2019\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<p>White told <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\/dana-white-unveils-85k-free-tickets-ufc-white-house-event-says-only-one-thing-can-stop-fight\">Fox News on Sunday<\/a> that a temporary arena will be built to hold 4,300 spectators, adding that the president, who is an avid fan, wants most of those tickets given to military personnel.<\/p>\n<p>The UFC boss also mentioned organizers will give away 85,000 tickets to fans to watch the fights from the Ellipse, where they will set up huge screens, stages, and music. <\/p>\n<p>But details about how to acquire the free tickets at the Ellipse have not yet been released.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4540613\/ufc-claw-stage-white-house-fight\/\"><strong>UFC BUILDS MASSIVE \u2018CLAW\u2019 STAGE FOR WHITE HOUSE FIGHT: \u2018OUT OF A MOVIE\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As more details about the event emerge, Topuria revealed the fighters will be walking out to the Octagon from the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Oval-Office\/\">Oval Office<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are going to do our warm-ups and all that in the Oval Office, and we are going to walk out from that,\u201d Topuria said. \u201cThis is what I heard.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This will be the first time Topuria faces off against Gaethje.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ilia Topuria praised Americans for valuing talent ahead of UFC Freedom 250<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3984,"featured_media":2599534,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP25180186836938.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[79215,72708,9885,8095],"class_list":["post-2599533","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-dana-white-2","tag-freedom-250-2","tag-mma","tag-ufc"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP25180186836938.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2599533","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3984"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2599533"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2599533\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2599537,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2599533\/revisions\/2599537"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2599534"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2599533"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2599533"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2599533"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}