UFC White House: Why Ilya Topuria is the man to spoil the American celebration

Called UFC Freedom 250, Trump predicted the event on the White House South Lawn would be “one of the highest-rated events in sports ever”, with the UFC spending around $60m (£44.3m) on the project.

The White House has hosted recreational sports and events before but this spectacle will mark the first professional live sporting event held on the grounds.

For the unique event, the UFC was expected to announce a special card, and although Trump’s initial prediction of “eight or nine title fights” did not come to fruition, Topuria was chosen as the headlining act.

While many fighters dress casually in a suit, Topuria exudes the class and confidence of a champion when speaking to the media.

Answering questions in English and Spanish, Topuria smiles proudly as he reminisces about the journey he took to reach this position.

“With all my accomplishments, being at this event and being headlined to start it all with my brother, my family and my entire team, is the result of hard work and makes me happier and more grateful,” Topuria said.

Aged seven, Topuria moved from Germany to Georgia with her parents in 2008 before moving to Spain at the age of 15. Conflict with Russia.

That’s where Topuria’s MMA journey began when his father allowed him and his brother Alexandre, a UFC fighter, to leave school and train full-time.

Since then Topuria has not looked back.

In 2024, he dethroned Alexander Volkanovski to become the first Georgian champion in UFC history – considered one of the greatest featherweights of all time.