UFC Freedom 250 Brings Electrifying Show to DC!

UFC Freedom 250 fight week rolls on. This Sunday, an event a year in the making will become a reality, barring any and all weather delays that may impede the card. Updated forecasts from The Weather Channel as of Thursday afternoon call for a 90 percent probability of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon on Sunday with highs reaching 90 degrees.

Rain chances will continue in the evening with a 60 percent chance of showers. Live coverage of UFC Freedom 250 is exclusive to Paramount Plus this weekend. Fights will begin at just past 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT on the streaming platform.

If there are no adjustments to be made to the itinerary this weekend, UFC Freedom 250 will feature a seven-bout card with no prelims. At seven fights, UFC Freedom 250 will be tied for the second-fewest bouts on a single show, with UFC 37.5 in 2002 holding the record in that category with six contests.

Prior to UFC Freedom 250, UFC Vegas 9 in 2020, a card ravaged by COVID cancellations, and the live finale of The Ultimate Fighter's second season in 2005 took place with seven contests each. Two title fights top the bout order Sunday night.

UFC Freedom 250 Main Event: UFC Lightweight Championship: Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje: Sizing Up Topuria

At the top of the bill for UFC Freedom 250, the UFC Lightweight Championship will be unified when current incumbent champion Ilia Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) meets interim champion Justin Gaethje (27-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC.) This fight, as well as the co-main event, will be an advertised maximum of five rounds at five minutes per round. 

Topuria has yet to lose as a professional heading into Sunday night, having most recently fought on June 28, 2025. That night, during UFC 317, he defended his 155-lb title by way of first-round knockout with a variety of strikes against Charles Oliveira (37-11, 1 NC MMA, 25-11, 1 NC UFC.) In so doing, he pocketed the $50,000 (USD) bonus for the Performance of the Night.

Given the magnitude of the event at-large, the UFC Freedom 250 headliner is the biggest fight of his career. Will "El Matador" retain his title in in the United States capital?

Gaethje Aiming to Become Permanent Titleholder in UFC Freedom 250

Gaethje will be standing across the way from the champion on Sunday night in the UFC Freedom 250 main attraction with a record of 4-1 in his last five contests. Presently, the defending UFC Interim Lightweight Champion has secured two victories in a row.

Back on Jan. 24, he scored a unanimous decision victory over Paddy Pimblett (23-4 MMA, 7-1 UFC) for the latter's first loss under the UFC promotional banner. He's already secured the interim title at 155 and Gaethje faces an important "home game" on Sunday vs. Topuria.

One question remains: Is the UFC Lightweight Championship going to call home to the United States after Sunday evening? Tune in and find out.

UFC Freedom 250 Co-Main Event: UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship: Alex Pereira vs. No. 1 Contender Ciryl Gane: "Poatan" Looking to Attain Triple-Champ Status

Immediately beforehand, the UFC Freedom 250 co-main event sees championship action happening in the heavyweight ranks. Former UFC Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira (13-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) makes his debut at 265 when he meets No. 1 contender Ciryl Gane (13-2, 1 NC MMA, 10-2, 1 NC UFC.)

"Poatan" enters UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday with a 4-1 record in his last five outings. On Oct. 4, he finished Magomed Ankalaev (21-2-1, 1 NC MMA, 12-2-1, 1 NC UFC) with a first-round knockout by way of ground strikes. This would serve as the last time that he'd fight at 205 lbs. 

Although the UFC has had nine fighters become double-champs, there's never been a contestant who's become a titleholder in three divisions. Should Pereira win on Sunday in UFC Freedom 250, he'll be in a class all his own.

Gane Wants Definitive Result in UFC Freedom 250 Co-Main Event Sunday

Meanwhile, Ciryl Gane is sporting a mark of 3-1 with one no-contest in his last five appearances. He's undefeated in his last three bouts, with his Oct. 25 fight against Tom Aspinall (15-3, 1 NC MMA, 8-1, 1 NC UFC) ending after four minutes and 35 seconds due to Aspinall suffering an eye poke.

With Aspinall still not scheduled to make his next defense of the UFC Heavyweight Championship, the promotion ordered an interim championship fight for UFC Freedom 250. For Ciryl Gane, he has to take it one step at a time, beginning with Sunday's co-main event.

An impressive performance in the contest by Gane will leave no doubt as to his next assignment in the Octagon. Can he secure a rematch with Aspinall? Tune in and find out.

UFC Freedom 250: No. 3 Contender Sean O'Malley vs. No. 6 Contender Aiemann Zahabi: "Suga" in Twilight of Career as Bantamweight Clash Looms

Also on UFC Freedom 250, the bantamweights take to the Octagon when No. 3 contender Sean O'Malley (19-3, 1 NC MMA, 11-3, 1 NC UFC) battles No. 6 contender Aiemann Zahabi (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC.) This is a three-round fight at five minutes per round. 

O'Malley has posted a mark of 3-2 in his last five fights and will be looking to build off his victory on Jan. 24. That night, he bested Song Yadong (23-9-1, 1 NC MMA, 12-4-1 UFC) after 15 minutes of action. With O'Malley having gone on record that 2026 could be his final year as an active competitor in MMA, time is of the essence for him.

"Suga" is right on the doorstep for a title shot ahead of Sunday night's card, so can he score the victory he needs to spark one last run at glory?

Zahabi in Search of Eighth Straight Victory at UFC Freedom 250

In the other corner, Aiemann Zahabi has gone 5-0 in his last five outings. He's currently on a seven-fight winning streak.dating back to Feb. 20, 2021.

Last October, he scored a split decision victory against Marlon Vera (23-12-1 MMA, 15-11 UFC) in Vancouver. Zahabi is on a hot streak. 

When a fighter is on a sustained run of success, like Zahabi is right now, he can be dangerous. With a victory on Sunday night, he'll be within shouting distance of a shot at the UFC Bantamweight Championship in the future.

Rest of the Card

UFC Freedom 250 is rounded out by these contests:

• a heavyweight bout matching No. 5 contender Josh Hokit (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) with No. 9 contender Derrick Lewis (29-13, 1 NC MMA, 20-11 UFC,)
• a lightweight attraction between No. 9 contender Mauricio Ruffy (13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) and No. 13 contender Michael Chandler (23-10 MMA, 2-5 UFC,)
• a middleweight bout versing Bo Nickal (8-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) against Kyle Daukaus (17-4, 1 NC MMA, 4-4, 1 NC UFC,)
• and a featherweight showcase pairing No. 2 contender Diego Lopes (27-8 MMA, 6-3 UFC) with No. 9 contender Steve Garcia (19-5 MMA, 8-2 UFC.)