The most polarizing and anticipated UFC event of all time has come and gone. UFC Freedom 250 was a smashing success, and despite the initial hour-long weather delay, the card delivered and then some.
Newly crowned Undisputed Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje stole the show in the main event. Gaethje largely dominated former champion Ilia Topuria and, in doing so, pulled off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.
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In the co-main event, French Heavyweight contender Cyril Gane put the MMA world back on notice. Gane solidified his status as one of the best Heavyweights in the world. Now Gane will fight for undisputed gold once again, in a rematch against current champion Tom Aspinall.
The UFC White House card was filled with action and important results in different weight classes. Here are some fights that need to happen after UFC Freedom 250.
Justin Gaethje vs Arman Tsarukyan
Justin Gaethje said he refused to decide whether to retire or continue fighting on the night of the UFC Freedom 250 card. Now that he’s the champion, Gaethje has a clear No. 1 contender waiting in the wings, if he chooses to continue to fight.
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Arman Tsarukyan has earned his way back to a title shot, beating Dan Hooker in his last bout, and still having a win over Charles Oliveira as well. There’s also just no other clear contender at this point. Tsarukyan is widely viewed as one of the top two Lightweights in the world. Now, it’s time to find out for real.
If Justin Gaethje does retire, then a rematch between Arman Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira should happen for the vacant Lightweight title.
Ilia Topuria vs Paddy Pimblett
UFC Freedom 250 wasn’t Ilia Topuria’s night, but maybe the most interesting question after the event is what happens next for him. UFC fans shouldn’t expect to see Topuria for a while, at the earliest, late this year or early 2027.
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Topuria has an arch-rival in the lightweight division that he’s been beefing with for years now, and that’s Paddy Pimblett. The two fighters have had a feud since 2021, when they were filmed jawing at each other with Paddy even throwing a bottle of hand sanitizer at Topuria.
Paddy Pimblett currently has a fight booked with Benois Saint Denis. If Pimblett gets through that test, the Topuria fight has to happen. It’d be the perfect fight up in competition for Pimblett, and fight down in the rankings for Topuria, coming off an awful loss
Alex Pereira vs Josh Hokit
This will depend on whether Alex Pereira stays at Heavyweight, but if so, Hokit is the clear other major contender in the division. The Heavyweight title will be fought for by Tom Aspinall and Cyril Gane. While that happens, the No. 1 contenders’ bout should be between Pereira and Hokit.
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The fight gives Alex another crack at Heavyweight, a division that needs more depth and star power anyway. For Hokit, it’s the biggest fight of his life by far, against an opponent he’s asking for, and the clear path to fighting for a world title.
A fight between Hokit and Pereira would be a perfect co-main event for a numbered card towards the end of the year.
Sean O’Malley vs Petr Yan
Sean O’Malley has done enough to earn a title shot at Bantamweight once again. Scoring a stellar knockout on the UFC Freedom 250 card has MMA fans wanting the Suga Show back at the top of 135. The only thing that should keep O’Malley from fighting for the 135 title is if Merab Dvalishvilli fights and defeats Petr Yan in a trilogy fight.
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If, for some reason, that fight doesn’t happen, or if Petr Yan wins it, O’Malley is the clear contender. Being the biggest star in the 135-pound division anyway, Sean O’Malley fighting and potentially winning the Bantamweight title is the best business for the UFC as well.
Diego Lopes vs Yair Rodriguez
Another grudge match that would be fireworks. Diego Lopes and Yair Rodriguez blew up at each other during a press conference where they had different opponents.
Yair Rodriguez needs to get active and fight another contender to get back towards title contention. Diego Lopes cannot fight for the Featherweight title right now because he already has two losses to the current champion, Alexander Volkanovski.
Stylistically, there’s no way a fight between such a creative striker like Yair Rodriguez and the car crash that is Diego Lopes would not deliver.
