UFC Freedom 250 payouts: How much are Ilia Topuria, Alex Pereira & others getting paid? Reported & estimated salaries for the White House event
(Courtesy : UFC)
UFC Freedom 250 takes place on the South Lawn of the White House!
For the first time in history, the UFC stages a fight card at the White House. UFC Freedom 250 takes place on Sunday, June 14, 2026, on the South Lawn of the iconic Washington, D.C. venue, timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of American independence and President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.
The seven-bout main card is headlined by a lightweight title unification bout between undisputed champion Ilia Topuria (17-0) and interim titleholder Justin Gaethje (27-5). It is a rare collision of two genuine finishers, with Topuria making the first defense of his lightweight belt after knocking out Charles Oliveira last June.
The co-main event sees former two-division champion Alex Pereira step up to heavyweight to face Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC Heavyweight Championship. A win would make Pereira the first fighter in UFC history to hold belts across three weight classes, a historic milestone that has driven enormous interest in the bout.
Rounding out the card are Sean O’Malley vs Aiemann Zahabi at bantamweight, Josh Hokit vs Derrick Lewis, and Bo Nickal vs Kyle Daukaus, Mauricio Ruffy vs Michael Chandler, and Diego Lopes vs Steve Garcia.
Also Read: Latest betting odds for UFC White House aka Freedom 250 ft. Ilia Topuria, Alex Pereira & more
When does UFC Freedom 250 start?
| Event | Time (ET) | Time (BST) | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Card | 8:00 PM | 1:00 AM (Mon) | 5:30 AM (Mon) |
| Main Event (approx.) | 10:30 PM | 3:30 AM (Mon) | 8:00 AM (Mon) |
Where to watch UFC Freedom 250?
| Region | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| USA | Paramount+ |
| UK | TNT Sports |
| India | Sony LIV & Sony Sports Network channels (in multiple languages) |
Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje’s estimated payout
Ilia Topuria’s earning trajectory mirrors the remarkable arc of his career. He reportedly took home approximately $3.6 million for his first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira at UFC in June 2025, and around $3.9 million for his title-winning performance against Max Holloway before that.
Those are among the largest paydays ever recorded for a non-legacy champion. Heading into Freedom 250, Topuria’s guaranteed base purse is estimated at $1 million, with a matching $1 million win bonus and a potential share of the special $1 million Crypto.com bonus pool confirmed for the event, putting his total estimated take-home in the $2 million–$2.1 million+ range.
Justin Gaethje arrives as a two-time interim lightweight champion and one of the UFC’s most consistent box-office attractions. His most recent earnings reflect his star power: a reported $1.5 million-plus range for his interim title win over Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324.
As the co-headliner of the biggest event in UFC history, Gaethje’s base purse is projected to sit at around $1 million, with his total estimated payout, including a win bonus, projected in the $2 million range.
Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane’s estimated payout
Alex Pereira is comfortably the highest-paid fighter on this card. Daniel Cormier disclosed during a backstage interview first reported by MMA Mania that Pereira is set to earn $10 million for his heavyweight debut at UFC Freedom 250, making him the only fighter on the card to reach eight figures.
The number represents the apex of a staggering financial climb for “Poatan,” who previously took home a reported $2.7 million for his dominant win over Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307.
Ciryl Gane, the former interim UFC heavyweight champion who has re-established himself as one of the division’s elite fighters, is expected to earn in the $500,000–$800,000 range for his title challenge.
UFC Freedom 250: Other fighters’ estimated payouts
Sean O’Malley, who recently returned to the win column and remains one of the promotion’s most marketable stars, is expected to earn somewhere in the $500,000–$700,000 bracket against Zahabi.
Veteran Michael Chandler, making what could be a career-defining appearance against rising finisher Mauricio Ruffy, is projected in the $250,000–$400,000 range. Derrick Lewis, facing unbeaten prospect Josh Hokit, typically operates around the $150,000–$250,000 territory at this stage of his career.
Bo Nickal, an unbeaten middleweight prospect drawing comparisons to Khabib Nurmagomedov in terms of ceiling, is estimated in the $80,000–$120,000 range.
UFC Freedom 250 fighters’ estimated payouts
| Fighter | Reported / Estimated Payout |
|---|---|
| Alex Pereira | $10,000,000 |
| Ilia Topuria | $2,000,000 – $2,100,000+ |
| Justin Gaethje | $1,000,000 – $2,000,000 |
| Ciryl Gane | $500,000 – $800,000 |
| Sean O’Malley | $500,000 – $700,000 |
| Michael Chandler | $250,000 – $400,000 |
| Derrick Lewis | $150,000 – $250,000 |
| Mauricio Ruffy | $100,000 – $150,000 |
| Bo Nickal | $80,000 – $120,000 |
| Aiemann Zahabi | $50,000 – $80,000 |
| Kyle Daukaus | $50,000 – $80,000 |
| Diego Lopes | $80,000 – $120,000 |
| Steve Garcia | $30,000 – $50,000 |
| Josh Hokit | $30,000 – $50,000 |
Note: All mentioned figures for fighters are analyst projections based on prior UFC compensation data. UFC has not officially disclosed individual purses for UFC Freedom 250.
Where can fans watch UFC Freedom 250?
Fans in the United States can watch the event live on Paramount+, with the card also expected to simulcast on CBS. In India, the fights will stream on Sony LIV, while viewers in the UK can watch via TNT Sports.
What time does the UFC Freedom 250 main event between Topuria and Gaethje start?
The main event cage walks for UFC Freedom 250 are expected at approximately 10:30 PM ET in the United States, 3:30 AM BST in the UK, and around 8:00 AM IST in India on Monday, June 15.
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