When U.S. President Donald Trump floated the concept in July that the UFC might stage a combat card on the White Home South Garden in 2026, MMA’s greatest names instantly started elevating their arms to volunteer. Even retired fighters and fighters lengthy faraway from the game, equivalent to Jon Jones and Conor McGregor, have been among the many first to throw their hats within the ring.
Whereas the small print of a UFC occasion on the grounds of the nation’s capital are nonetheless unknown, UFC CEO Dana White instructed the Related Press earlier this month {that a} Fourth of July occasion in Washington, D.C., is “completely going to occur” subsequent 12 months. He mentioned an Aug. 28 assembly is scheduled with Trump and daughter Ivanka Trump to debate combat plans and has promised to placed on “the baddest card of all time.”
Sure, there are many UFC occasions to construct, and a lot will change between now and July 2026, however whereas the matchmakers are speaking fights, why can’t we? Brett Okamoto and Andreas Hale put their heads collectively to plan their final White Home card, full with returning legends, long-standing rivalries, title fights and extra.
On this state of affairs, two of the longest careers in UFC historical past might finish on the identical evening. These two have been preventing for therefore lengthy (77 mixed UFC fights), it’s not straightforward to provide you with the right approach for his or her careers to finish. How do you create the right ultimate chapter of two careers which have seen all of it? This could suffice. Miller and Barboza battle on the White Home garden, then depart their gloves within the Octagon collectively after. –Okamoto
This could be a combat between a returning anti-hero in Masvidal, who has had a temperamental relationship with UFC followers and can be popping out of retirement for his first UFC combat since 2023, in opposition to everybody’s pleasant neighborhood “Wonderboy.” Though each have entered their 40s and are on streaks of no less than three losses, their respective kinds would make for an intriguing combat. Masvidal perfected his craft avenue preventing in Florida, whereas Thompson grew up honing his kickboxing expertise below the tutelage of his father. The assembly of polar opposites in determined want of a win is ideal for a card of this magnitude. — Hale
One in all a number of rematches on the cardboard, this combat is all about redemption. Strickland upset Adesanya for the UFC title in surprising vogue in 2023, and nothing has been the identical for Adesanya since. That five-round defeat to Strickland started a string of three straight losses, however Adesanya vs. Strickland actually was by no means presupposed to occur within the first place. Adesanya needed Dricus Du Plessis however wasn’t affected person sufficient to attend for him to heal from damage. Adesanya later revealed on his podcast that White tried to persuade him to not take the primary combat in opposition to Strickland. Adesanya doesn’t must show something to anybody at this level, however he might go attempt to show this loss was a fluke, if he needed to. — Okamoto
The primary assembly between Tate and Holm happened in 2016 and altered the ladies’s MMA panorama. White wasn’t in favor of the reserving. Holm was coming off probably the most well-known wins in UFC historical past, a head kick knockout of Ronda Rousey, and White needed Holm to attend for a Rousey rematch, however Holm didn’t like the concept of sitting. She demanded a combat in opposition to Tate and ended up succumbing to a rear-naked choke within the ultimate spherical. Longtime followers can nonetheless image Holm punching air as she went unconscious. Holm is not within the UFC, however she might all the time re-sign for one combat. It is a fantasy card, in any case, and this is able to be an incredible story so as to add to it. — Okamoto
Cejudo has mentioned retirement, and O’Malley’s profession doesn’t have a transparent course for the primary time ever, following back-to-back losses in title fights in opposition to Merab Dvalishvili. However these two have lengthy expressed curiosity in preventing one another. They’re each basically from Arizona at this level, having each resided there for almost all of their careers. O’Malley has trolled Cejudo on many events, going again no less than 5 years. Plenty of backstory to this matchup. — Okamoto
There must be a BMF title combat on a card of this magnitude, proper? Followers love Holloway, and there’s no approach he may very well be left off this card. Pimblett is arguably the quickest rising star within the UFC and continues to exceed expectations when he steps into the Octagon. So long as “Paddy the Baddy” hasn’t grow to be the light-weight champion by the point this card rolls round, a combat with Holloway to find out the baddest man within the UFC can be a welcome addition to the cardboard. Holloway isn’t, if ever, in an unexciting combat, and Pimblett has proved he brings the ruckus each time the cage door shuts. This could be a licensed U.S. vs. U.Ok. banger between fan favorites. — Hale
If it wasn’t for the historic degree of hype behind Chimaev, De Ridder can be thought of the freight prepare of this division. He’ll make his fourth stroll of 2025 in October, in opposition to one other freight prepare in Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez. That’s a 50-50 combat, and within the occasion Hernandez wins, we’d elevate him to this listing. De Ridder’s fashion and grappling pedigree versus Chimaev’s wrestling is a tantalizing matchup. Chimaev is rising as one of many greatest stars within the UFC, and if issues fall proper, De Ridder would in all probability be thought of his hardest matchup within the division. The White Home garden can be an excellent place to area it. — Okamoto
If Pereira regains the sunshine heavyweight title when he rematches Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320 on Oct. 4, it will solely be proper for probably the most common fighters on the roster to be a part of the White Home occasion. Standing throughout the Octagon from him can be the surging New Zealander on an eight-fight successful streak, Carlos Ulberg. The most effective “Poatan” fights are those which have little to no floor sport, and Ulberg would nearly actually comply with maintain the combat standing and slug it out for the 205-pound title. — Hale
Perhaps Harrison beats Nunes of their first assembly, anticipated later this 12 months or early subsequent. Or possibly Nunes, who hasn’t fought since June 2023, comes again and will get the job finished. Both approach, the game can be prepared for a right away rematch. This can be one of many greatest fights in girls’s MMA historical past, which the game wants proper now as the ladies’s divisions have lacked depth in recent times. Harrison is a primary candidate to combat on the White Home. Two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo for the U.S.? That’s robust to beat on the subject of setting up this card. The state of affairs will in all probability be higher if Nunes wins the primary combat and Harrison is on the lookout for redemption on July 4, however both approach, we’ll take it. — Okamoto
There is just one combat that is sensible for the return of McGregor and that’s to finish the trilogy in opposition to rival Diaz. McGregor is nowhere close to a title alternative and there’s no different opponent that is sensible for the Irishman to finish his almost half decade away from the UFC. If the UFC desires to lure Diaz again into the fold with a combat that may get him paid and never disrupt something within the rankings, this is able to be it. Normally, this is able to be the primary occasion and most-watched occasion in any 12 months, however the White Home card is completely different. McGregor might not be insulted by the concept of not being the primary occasion, so long as he’s preventing in entrance of Trump. Diaz wouldn’t care about placement so long as he’s preventing McGregor, whom he has repeatedly mentioned is the one individual he’ll combat. This card has all the extraordinary parts essential to convey collectively a combat MMA followers have lengthy anticipated. — Hale
It feels inevitable we’ll get this matchup a method or one other. It’s only a matter of when and at what weight. It will in all probability be most honest at light-weight, however most historic at welterweight. If Makhachev fights for and wins the welterweight championship later this 12 months, he’ll be a double champion. Topuria already is a double champion. If Topuria have been to maneuver as much as welterweight for this combat, he would try to grow to be the primary three-weight champion in UFC historical past. These two nonetheless have work to try this doesn’t contain one another, however they’re very conscious that this combat is all the time constructing and percolating in a method or one other. — Okamoto
White has set the percentages of the UFC together with Jones on the White Home card at “billion-to-1,” however we are able to’t assist however embody the Aspinall matchup as our No. 1 possibility. It’s the right combat — for any card, however particularly this one. The American heavyweight GOAT versus the English heavyweight champion, on American Independence Day within the nation’s capital. Are you kidding? You possibly can’t conjure a greater state of affairs than this. So allow us to dream about it for a day and for the aim of this piece, after which we are able to return to the crippling disappointment that was Jones’ resolution to duck Aspinall on his approach out of the game. — Okamoto
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