UFC White House: Topuria vs Gaethje Odds, Card Picks
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- UFC Freedom 250 will be the first pro sporting event held at the White House, with a seven-bout card erected on the South Lawn starting at 8 p.m. ET Sunday, streaming exclusively on Paramount+
- Ilia Topuria (17-0) defends the UFC Lightweight Championship as a -500 favorite against Justin Gaethje (+380), who won the interim lightweight title via unanimous decision over Paddy Pimblett in January 2026
- Ciryl Gane (-112) faces Alex Pereira (-108) in the co-headliner for the interim heavyweight title, with the over/under set at 2.5 rounds
- Topuria became the 10th two-weight UFC champion and the first to claim multiple titles while remaining undefeated after winning the vacant lightweight belt from Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June 2025
- Justin Gaethje enters as the first two-time interim champion in UFC history and the oldest fighter to win a UFC Lightweight Title, holding a record-tying 10 Fight of the Night bonuses
- SportsLine expert Daniel Vithlani, up over $1,500 on UFC main-card picks since January 2023, is backing Steve Garcia (+135) to upset Diego Lopes (-162) in the featherweight opener, citing Garcia's seven-fight win streak with six knockouts in that span
Why it matters: The event marks the first-ever pro sporting event at the White House, a venue first with significant promotional and viewership implications for UFC's new Paramount+ deal. Topuria (17-0) is bidding to extend his status as the only undefeated two-division champion in UFC history, while Gaethje enters with parallel historic firsts as the oldest lightweight title holder and only two-time interim champion. Bettors have access to a competitive card with near pick'em odds on the co-headliner and a specific underdog angle from Vithlani, who is documented up over $1,500 on UFC main-card picks since January 2023.
