UFC White House start time announced as fight-week schedule is confirmed

And further details have been announced, including the start time for the unique fight card.

First, however, a press conference will take place at the Lincoln Memorial on Friday 12 June, beginning at 5.30pm PT / 7.30pm CT / 8.30pm ET (1.30am BST on Saturday).

Then, on Saturday 13 June, a fan festival will play out at the Ellipse, a large park located next to the White House. That will begin at 12.30pm PT / 2.30pm CT / 3.30pm ET (8.30pm BST).

Thereafter, the ceremonial weigh-in for the fight card will get started at 5.30pm PT / 7.30pm CT / 8.30pm ET (1.30am BST on Sunday), followed by a concert from the Zac Brown Band at 6.30pm PT / 8.30pm CT / 9.30pm ET (2.30am BST on Sunday).

Finally, the fight card itself will take place on Sunday 14 June, beginning at 5pm PT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET (1am BST on Monday).

Alongside the afore-mentioned bouts, O’Malley will face Aiemann Zahabi at bantamweight; Chandler will fight Mauricio Ruffy at lightweight; Diego Lopes takes on Steve Garcia at featherweight; and Bo Nickal faces Kyle Daukaus at middleweight.

Josh Hokit (right) outpointed Curtis Blaydes in an instant classic (Getty)

Describing the way Hokit vs Lewis came together, White said in a cageside video last week: “I said, ‘Derrick, the president just asked me why you’re not on the card. Do you wanna fight on the White House card?’ And he goes: ‘Of course I do. Tell the president thank you, I wanna do it.’

“Then the Hokit fight plays out, he beats the No 5-ranked guy in the world, and Joe Rogan says: ‘Is there still room on the White House card?’ Went back and talked to [Lewis]. Hokit vs Lewis was just added to the White House card in the last 10 minutes.

“President Trump built half of that fight, and Rogan built the other half. Both guys have accepted and agreed for the fight, so we’re adding one more to the White House: Hokit vs Derrick Lewis. Pretty badass how that played out organically during the fight [card].”