UFC White House live updates: Latest from today’s Freedom 250 card ahead of Topuria vs. Gaethje

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of one of the most controversial sporting events of the year: UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C.

Yes, you read that correctly: today’s mixed martial arts event will take place at the White House, becoming the first professional sporting event staged at the presidential residence.

The event — which the UFC has modestly dubbed “the most historic sporting event of all time” — is officially called “Freedom 250,” but is being held almost three weeks before Independence Day, on President Trump’s 80th birthday.

A lawsuit filed last week attempted to halt the event but was ultimately unsuccessful. Plenty more on all of that later.

UFC Freedom 250 will be headlined by two title fights. Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane will fight for the interim UFC heavyweight championship in the co-main event, before Ilia Topuria defends his lightweight title against Justin Gaethje.