Following UFC 326 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on March 7, 2026, UFC President Dana White addressed the media to discuss the event’s outcomes and upcoming plans. Amongst multiple updates, White confirmed that Alex Pereira will be given a historic opportunity to fight for a UFC title at the upcoming White House event, aiming to become the first UFC fighter to hold championships in three separate weight classes.
Charles Oliveira’s Dominant Grappling Secures BMF Title
The night’s headline fight saw Charles Oliveira secure a decisive victory over Max Holloway by leveraging his grappling skills over five rounds, earning a unanimous decision and capturing the BMF title. The approach surprised many, including White himself, who praised Oliveira’s strategic execution on the ground.
I don’t know if anybody was expecting that. I didn’t,
White admitted.
White noted Oliveira’s effective use of body control and ground dominance, which prevented Holloway from mounting any successful takedown defenses or escape attempts.
I thought there’d be a lot more stand up, and I thought that that Max would do a better job of defending the takedown, and if he got on the ground, he’d at least pop up a couple three times during the round. But, total domination, and at the end of the day, the goal of the sport is to win fights, right?
Paramount+ Streaming Deal Surpasses Expectations
A few months into the UFC’s transition to Paramount+ for streaming, Dana White shared that the partnership has performed beyond expectations. By removing multiple paywalls and offering all UFC content on a single platform, UFC’s reach and fan engagement have significantly increased.
If you look at where we are now, we’re out from underneath two pay walls,
White said.
He emphasized the value of widespread access through CBS and Paramount, which has contributed to a positive impact on UFC viewership and revenue streams. White also projected that the upcoming White House fight would further boost interest and viewership.
Obviously, being on CBS is huge, and Paramount, for what it would cost you for one pay-per-view, you can watch everything UFC for the year. We already feel the difference in the business. And Paramount definitely does. I think we have exceeded their expectations on how many people are coming over to watch the fights. And obviously, the White House fight will blow it out of the water.
Assembling the UFC White House Fight Card
The lineup for the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House is now official, with Dana White describing the careful process behind choosing the matchups. UFC matchmakers explored available fight possibilities before White made the final selections.
Basically, what we did is the matchmakers went out and started talking to everybody, seeing what fights were possible, and then came back to me and I chose the card,
White explained.
White also noted that a significant portion of the effort is now focused on logistics, led by UFC Chief Content Officer and Executive Producer Craig Borsari, who is dedicating all attention to ensuring the event’s success.
We got a lot of the logistics done,
White said.
We went out there and presented it to the President and his team and now we’ll get into all of that stuff.
There’s still so much work to do for this fight. Literally, Craig Borsari, our Head of Production, this is all his works on now – nothing else until it’s all over.
In addition to the fight itself, White shared details about fan activities planned around the event in Washington, D.C., including a massive outdoor viewing experience at The Ellipse capable of hosting up to 85,000 people. Fans unable to attend the White House in person will still be able to enjoy the spectacle with large screens, interactive experiences, and promotional giveaways like RAM trucks.
Obviously you can’t get tickets to get into the White House fight, but The Ellipse across the street, we’ll be able to hold 85,000 people over there,
White explained.
There’s gonna be all kinds of cool stuff, so even if you can’t get tickets, you should be in DC the week of the fight. The press conference is gonna be at the Lincoln Memorial. It’s going to be fun.
Jon Jones Was Never Considered for the White House Fight Card
Speculation around former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Jon Jones participating in the White House fight card was dismissed outright by Dana White. He reiterated that Jones was never seriously considered due to multiple factors, including Jones’ ongoing hip issues that led to his retirement.
Never ever, ever – which I told you guys 100,000 times – was Jon Jones even remotely in my mind to fight at the White House,
White confirmed.
He referenced a viral video in which Jones reportedly discussed hip problems severe enough to require replacement, coupled with recent performances showing limited mobility.
Despite Jones publicly claiming to be negotiating for the fight, White revealed he had already informed Jones’ lawyer that the fight was off the table.
I’m not saying they weren’t talking to Jon Jones, and that Jon Jones wasn’t interested in the fight. And what was crazier is Jon Jones came out and was like, ‘I’m in negotiations right now for the White House fight,’ after I had already sent a text to his lawyer saying, ‘Never going to happen, ever.’
Arman Tsarukyan Incident and UFC’s Future Plans
Lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan caught headlines for a confrontation at a wrestling event in Tempe, Arizona, which caused some concern within the UFC. Dana White stated that while he didn’t approve of the altercation, Tsarukyan will continue to receive fights in the organization.
But you know, that’s really all I gotta say about that. The division’s heating up, and [there’s] lots of fun fights to make, and we’ll get Arman figured out.
White expressed frustration over Tsarukyan’s behavior, emphasizing that respect is expected among fighters even during intense rivalries.
I’m not thrilled with Arman right now,
White said.
Listen, there’s plenty of guys that wrestle that have been respectful with other guys that they wrestled. And I understand there was some back and forth with both of those guys. But where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and Arman has been smoking a lot lately.
Potential Dana White vs Eddie Hearn Boxing Match
White was recently asked about his comments regarding a potential boxing bout against sports promoter Eddie Hearn. While White described the remarks as half-serious and half-joking, he revealed a degree of readiness to step into the ring, despite his age and past experiences.
I’m f****** 56 years old. I shouldn’t be f****** boxing anything. The last time I even tried to get ready to box, it was for Tito [Ortiz]. I was 38 and that was a f****** nightmare! And Eddie Hearn’s a p****, he don’t want to f****** box anybody. Come on, f****** Eddie Hearn boxing…
When Hearn expressed willingness to fight, White challenged him to show up at the UFC’s Apex facility to face off. Meanwhile, White joked about fellow fighter Callum Walsh potentially joining the undercard.
If two f****** bums like us were gonna do that, we’d be the first prelim of the night. It would be disrespectful to every guy who’s a real fighter on that card to be under us. We’d be the first prelim of the night, and that would be f****** embarrassing!
Alex Pereira’s Historic UFC Title Opportunity
Former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira will compete for an interim heavyweight title at the White House event, aiming for an unprecedented achievement in UFC history. If successful, Pereira would become the first fighter to claim UFC championship belts in three separate weight categories.
Pereira’s path is especially remarkable because the divisions involved have the largest weight gaps, moving from middleweight (185 pounds) to light heavyweight (205 pounds), and now to the heavyweight limit (up to 265 pounds).
Dana White praised Pereira’s drive and fighting spirit, highlighting his willingness to take on any opponent over successive weeks.
Alex Pereira is this guy that wants to fight everybody, every single weekend,
White said.
He’s one of the most unique guys we’ve ever dealt with. And you know, we all agree that, if this is what he wants to do, he deserves it.
White also referenced Pereira’s anticipated opponent, Ciryl Gane, describing the matchup as intriguing due to Gane’s atypical movement for a heavyweight.
So true. It’s absolutely incredible. We’ll see how it plays [out],
White remarked.
Ciryl Gane is a very interesting fight for him, because Ciryl Gane doesn’t move like a lot of heavyweights move, so it should be a very fun fight.
This historic bout will be part of the UFC Freedom 250 event scheduled for June 14, 2026, at the White House and broadcast live on Paramount+, marking a milestone in UFC and combat sports history.
THE OFFICIAL BOUT LIST FOR #UFCWhiteHouse
[ LIVE Sunday June 14 on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/06d09Tm0jZ
— UFC (@ufc) March 8, 2026
