The White House gave UFC its biggest stage ever. So why aren’t the fights themselves grander?

UFC Freedom 250, held at the White House and heavily promoted by President Donald Trump, delivered only seven total fights rather than the eight or nine championship bouts Trump had promised in December. The event is headlined by a lightweight title bout between champion Ilia Topuria, a heavy favorite, and Justin Gaethje. Critics note the card falls short of expectations, with Topuria himself acknowledging a matchup against Islam Makhachev would have been a more prestigious test.