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Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria to swap custom shorts for US kits at UFC White House
TL;DR
Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria will exchange their custom shorts for US kits at UFC Freedom 250, a special event on the White House lawn celebrating 250 years of American independence. The event will feature military personnel and VIPs, along with a return to the six-sided ring.
Key points
- UFC Freedom 250 celebrates 250 years of American independence
- Event will take place on the White House lawn
- Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria will wear US kits
- Military personnel and VIPs will be in attendance
- Return of the six-sided ring used from 1997 to 2000
Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC
When the UFC Octagon arrives in Washington D.C. this June, it wonât just be another fight night â everyone will be wearing red, white, and blue.
The promotion is hosting a special event on the White House lawn to mark 250 years of American independence, with military personnel and VIPs in attendance.
UFC Freedom 250 will also see a return to the six-sided ring, which the company used at one point between 1997 and 2000.
And thereâs another twist: although foreign fighters Ilia Topuria and Alex Pereira are headlining the card, theyâll also be competing while representing American colours.
Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC
Ilia Topuria and Alex Pereira pose in special UFC White House fight kits
The full lineup for the UFC White House event was announced during the UFC 326 broadcast back in March. While some fans had hoped for a bit more star power, the card still offers plenty to look forward to.
Headlining the night, Topuria will face Justin Gaethje to unify the lightweight belts, while Pereira steps up to heavyweight to take on Ciryl Gane with an interim title on the line.
Sean OâMalley and Michael Chandler are also set to represent the US on June 14. The fight kits theyâll be wearing were recently unveiled, and this time around, every fighterâregardless of nationalityâwill be sporting a uniform based on American colours.
Complex Sports shared a video from a photoshoot featuring fighters posing in these new kits. The design is consistent across all fighters, each kit clearly inspired by the American flag.
This means that even international stars like Topuria and Pereira will be wearing US-themed gear for this event, which is a change from their usual custom shorts that fans have become accustomed to seeing.
Q&A
What is UFC Freedom 250 and when is it happening?
UFC Freedom 250 is a special event celebrating 250 years of American independence, taking place in June on the White House lawn.
Why are Alex Pereira and Ilia Topuria swapping their shorts for US kits?
They are swapping their custom shorts for US kits as part of the patriotic theme of the UFC Freedom 250 event.
What unique feature will UFC Freedom 250 have compared to regular events?
UFC Freedom 250 will feature a return to the six-sided ring, which was previously used by the promotion between 1997 and 2000.
