Live: 'Chaotic weather' forecast for White House UFC event

As the fighters prepare for their White House debuts in the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn, the Weather Channel is predicting heavy rain and potential thunderstorms as we ramp up to a title fight between Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria.

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Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 10:13am

Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 10:13am

Weather preparations

With the tarps in place, it really does look like a circus tent.

Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 10:03am

Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 10:03am

A look inside UFC Freedom 250

By Jon Healy

There's been A LOT of chat in the lead-up to today and plenty of fans have turned out to events, giving us a chance to get their perspectives.

Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 9:47am

Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 9:47am

Historic?

By Jon Healy

Jon Healy - please explain why this is a moment in history?

It's a boxing match held NOT on the 250th anniversary, but a struggling president. It's not even the 250th anniversary today.

A tacky event - definitely.

A moment in history... um. no.

- John

Hi John,

Regardless of whether you view it as an abomination unbecoming of the White House or a marvellous celebration of everything the USA stands for, an event of this type and scale held on the South Lawn is an historic moment.

Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 9:44am

Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 9:44am

Contrasting scenes

By Jon Healy

Outside the event, labelled "a once-in-a-generation celebration of the American fighting spirit", protesters have hit the streets …

Meanwhile, inside the watch party …

Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 9:34am

Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 9:34am

Fighting in the rain

By Jon Healy

UFC in heavy rain with thunderstorm would be cool. lol

- Reece

The roof on the structure might keep them dry, but if there is any sort of wind, surely the rain is getting blown onto the fighters.

And any of the celebrities in attendance are surely getting soaked.

Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 9:29am

Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 9:29am

Severe thunderstorm alert issued

By Jon Healy

It's looking OK in this video shared by the White House account …

But the National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Washington DC and surrounding areas.

Key Event

Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 9:17am

Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 9:17am

Who is fighting at the White House?

By Jon Healy

There are seven fights on the card tonight/this morning.

Here's the order:

Diego Lopes vs Steve Garcia (featherweight)

Bo Nickal vs Kyle Daukaus (middleweight)

Mauricio Ruffy vs Michael Chandler (lightweight)

Josh Hokit vs Derrick Lewis (heavyweight)

Sean O'Malley vs Aiemann Zahabi (bantamweight)

Alex Pereira vs Ciryl Gane (heavyweight — interim title fight)

Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje (lightweight — title fight)

Key Event

Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 9:09am

Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 9:09am

'Chaotic weather' forecast

By Jon Healy

The Weather Channel has posted on social media that there could be some wild weather.

A decent chance of heavy rain and thunderstorms with 55 km/h wind gusts could cause delays to the event on the South Lawn of the White House.

The forecast also warns of mosquitoes and gnats "that fighters will have to battle inside the cage".

The White House's so-called "Rapid Response Team", the purview of which is to put "a flamethrower on the Fake News Media", says not to worry, though, because this post was written by a "friendless loser".

"This event is about celebrating America's unmatched greatness after 250 years," it tweeted.

"Rain or shine, we're celebrating our great country no matter what. GOD BLESS AMERICA!"

Off to one hell of a start.

Key Event

Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 9:01am

Mon 15 Jun 2026 at 9:01am

Hello, and welcome to a moment in history

By Jon Healy

Yes, you read that right; it's time for UFC on the South Lawn of the White House.

It's all part of the United States's sesquicentennial celebrations and just so happens to coincide with US President Donald Trump's 80th birthday. How about that?

There are seven fights on the card today, culminating in a main event title fight between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, plus a mountain of activity outside the octagon.

Stick around as we bring you every moment.

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