A pre-fight press conference on Friday turned hostile when Ilia Topuria shoved Justin Gaethje in front of the Lincoln Memorial, escalating tensions ahead of Sunday's UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn of the White House. The altercation capped a chaotic media session that also saw Dana White fend off questions about troubling weather forecasts.
White revealed that fighters will receive record-high bonuses: $400,000 for fight of the night and $425,000 for top individual performances, a massive increase from standard payouts. The Weather Channel currently forecasts a 50% chance of rain with potential severe thunderstorms, raising concerns about the outdoor event White has long resisted.
The unprecedented venue — the White House South Lawn — required significant investment, though exact costs were not disclosed. The event is headlined by a main card that includes the heated Topuria-Gaethje matchup, which now carries extra animosity after the shoving incident.
With storm risks looming, White expressed defiance but acknowledged his longstanding dislike for outdoor events. The press conference itself faced a delay due to bad weather, sparking cancellation fears among fans. Sunday's card proceeds as scheduled unless conditions force a change.
“I've never liked outdoor fights — you can't control the weather,” White said at the presser, per Yahoo Sports. “But we're doing this for the fans, and we're going to put on a show.”