Who Could Headline a UFC Event at the White House?
Donald Trump announced on Thursday at a rally in Iowa that he’s been in discussions with Dana White about potentially hosting a UFC event in front of the White House on the Fourth of July to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States. Dana White responded on social media, confirming the talks and signaling that this wild idea might become a reality. The question now is — who could headline the main event of such a historic card? For the first time since 2004, the UFC currently doesn’t have a male born American Champion, which makes the matchmaking for a patriotic Fourth of July event a bit tricky. It raises an interesting challenge: What kind of high-stakes, marketable matchups could the UFC deliver for an occasion like this? Here are a few potential headliners:
Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall
A fight many believed was off the table just weeks ago might be back in play. After recently announcing his retirement, Jon Jones has hinted at a possible return to the Octagon for this superfight in front of the White House. Some questioned whether Jones was serious—until he re-entered the UFC’s testing pool, a clear signal that he’s considering a comeback. No other matchup makes as much sense as a bout against Tom Aspinall. Aspinall is arguably Jones' biggest rival at Heavyweight, and the tension between the two has been building. This fight depends on Aspinall still holding the Heavyweight title a year from now — a strong possibility considering his dominance in the division. If he isn’t champion by then, the UFC would likely pair Jones against whoever holds the belt at the time.
Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler
Jon Jones isn’t the only former UFC Champion showing interest in this event. Arguably the most famous fighter in UFC history, Conor McGregor, has also hinted at returning to the Octagon for this card. Having recently visited the White House himself, McGregor’s star power is undeniable — he would be a massive headliner against almost any opponent. A likely matchup would be against Michael Chandler. The two were originally set to face off during last year’s International Fight Week before the fight fell through. This event could finally deliver that long-awaited bout on the sport’s biggest stage.
Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway II
This is the less likely option, but one that would still be a blockbuster if circumstances align. Ilia Topuria, now one of the UFC’s fastest-rising stars, would be defending his Lightweight title against Max Holloway in a potential superfight. For this to happen, Topuria would need to successfully defend his belt at least once, while Holloway would have to defeat Dustin Poirier and another top Lightweight contender to earn a shot. It’s a long shot to pull this off by next July — but if it happened, it would be a high-stakes, fan-friendly title bout worthy of the occasion.
Conclusion
An event like this would be a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle and opens the door for dream matchups, including the potential returns of Jon Jones and Conor McGregor. While the current lack of American Champions complicates the UFC’s matchmaking for such a patriotic card, several high-profile fights could still headline this historic night. Other American fighters like Sean Brady, Cory Sandhagen, and Merab Dvalishvili might also be in title contention by this time next year. While their chances of headlining are slim due to marketability concerns, one of them could land a co-main event slot, especially Merab, who has already expressed interest in competing on this card. If it happens, UFC White House could go down as one of the most memorable events in UFC history.
