The UFC has been advised to be careful not to go overboard.
With the 2026 schedule set to kick off alongside a new $7.7 billion broadcast deal with Paramount, one event in particular has captured a lot of attention early in the year – even though it’s still six months away.
Last summer, President Donald Trump announced that the White House would host UFC fights, and Dana White has since been working behind the scenes to pull it all together for a national celebration scheduled for 14 June.
A number of big names within the UFC have already thrown their hats in the ring, and it seems that many of them will get their wish. According to Jon Anik, there could be as many as seven title fights on the card.
Kamaru Usman is among those who don’t agree with that approach. He made his feelings clear on MMA TV: “That’s way too much,” Usman said. “I think you’re putting way too much excitement into one place.”
Chael Sonnen opposes idea of holding seven title fights at UFC White House
Chael Sonnen is the latest big name in MMA to voice concerns about the UFC’s reported plans for a stacked title fight lineup at White House.
Speaking with The Schmo, Sonnen pointed to a past example from another promotion to explain why he thinks packing too many title bouts into one card could backfire.
“Everyone’s talking about there’s going to be seven title fights — which, by the way, I hope that there’s not,” said Sonnen.
“It’s a little much. Just as a fan, I’ve been to events. There’s one that Scott Coker put on but there were three title fights…they all went the distance. It was too much.
“It was 75 minutes of seeing three fights. It was too much. I think it’s a big mistake,” he added.
Sonnen brought up two of the biggest rumoured matchups linked with the event – Conor McGregor vs. Ilia Topuria and Alex Pereira vs. Jon Jones – and pointed out that neither involves a championship belt.
The exact details of how many titles will be on the line are still unconfirmed, but according to Jon Anik, we could see as many as seven championship bouts scheduled for June 14th in Washington D.C., unless opinions like Sonnen’s are taken on board before then.
Kayla Harrison’s White House hopes hit by injury setback
One of the names pushing hard for a place on the White House card is Kayla Harrison, and she has a solid argument.
The women’s bantamweight champion is currently the only American holding a UFC title, something she’s pointed out should help her secure a spot in Washington D.C.
But now, Harrison has hit a big obstacle. She’s dealing with an injury that could keep her out for some time.
Harrison was set to defend her title at UFC 324 against Amanda Nunes but has since pulled out of the fight. It’s a blow for fans who were looking forward to that clash.
She recently had surgery to fix herniated discs in her neck, and early reports suggest she’ll need about six months to recover. That lines up exactly with how long it is until the White House event on June 14, giving her just enough time if everything goes well.
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