Seven fights, two titles, and a backdrop unlike any other. One of the most talked-about moments in recent sports history is just around the corner.
MMA’s biggest stars will collide on the South Lawn of the White House on Saturday night at UFC Freedom 250 — a spectacle nearly a year in the making.
In the main event, undefeated superstar Ilia Topuria defends his lightweight title against interim champion Justin Gaethje. Topuria (17–0) enters on one of the most impressive runs in combat sports history, stopping Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira in succession. Gaethje (27–5) has won back-to-back bouts, capped by a commanding unanimous decision win over Paddy Pimblett.
Topuria enters as an overwhelming -535 favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Gaethje is a +400 underdog.
The co-main event of the evening pits fan-favorite Alex Pereira against former heavyweight titleholder Ciryl Gane for the interim strap, with the former attempting to become the first three-division champion in UFC history.
Rounding out the card: ex-bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley takes on longtime contender Aiemann Zahabi; undefeated heavyweight Josh Hokit faces UFC knockout king Derrick Lewis; surging lightweight prospect Mauricio Ruffy looks to continue his rise against veteran Michael Chandler; highly touted middleweight Bo Nickal meets a resurgent Kyle Daukaus; and former featherweight title challenger Diego Lopes kicks things off against rising competitor Steve Garcia.
Here’s a look at Saturday’s full fight card, along with some of the strongest available props on DraftKings Sportsbook.
UFC Freedom 250 Full Fight Card, Odds
| Matchup: | Records: | Weight Class: | Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook: |
| (C) Ilia Topuria vs. (IC) Justin Gaethje Lightweight Title Bout | 17–0 (9–0 UFC) vs. 27–5 (10–5 UFC) | Lightweight | -535 vs. +400 |
| Alex Pereira vs. #1 Ciryl Gane Heavyweight Title Bout | 13–3 (10–2 UFC) vs. 13–2, 1 NC (10–2, 1 NC UFC) | Heavyweight | -105 vs. -115 |
| #3 Sean O’Malley vs. #6 Aiemann Zahabi | 19–3, 1 NC (11–3, 1 NC UFC) vs. 14–2 (8–2 UFC) | Bantamweight | -440 vs. +340 |
| #5 Josh Hokit vs. #9 Derrick Lewis | 9–0 (3–0 UFC) vs. 29–13, 1 NC (20–11 UFC) | Heavyweight | -410 vs. +320 |
| #9 Mauricio Ruffy vs. #13 Michael Chandler | 13–2 (4–1 UFC) vs. 23–10 (2–5 UFC) | Lightweight | -700 vs. +500 |
| Bo Nickal vs. Kyle Daukaus | 8–1 (5–1 UFC) vs. 17–4, 1 NC (4–4, 1 NC UFC) | Middleweight | -355 vs. +280 |
| #2 Diego Lopes vs. #9 Steve Garcia | 27–8 (6–3 UFC) vs. 19–5 (8–2 UFC) | Featherweight | -162 vs. +136 |
Best Prop Bets for UFC Freedom 250
Ilia Topuria to Win in Rounds 1–2 (-130)
All five of Justin Gaethje’s professional losses have come by stoppage, including three knockouts and punctuated by Max Holloway’s iconic, buzzer-beater KO at UFC 300 in April 2024. If anyone is built to deliver a similar outcome, it’s lightweight champion Ilia Topuria.
Not only is the Georgian superstar one of the most gifted strikers in the promotion’s history, but he also owns a black belt in jiu-jitsu. Naturally, he’s not too interested in the opinions of judges. Topuria heads into Saturday with an 88% career finish rate, with 14 of his 15 career stoppages coming within the first two rounds.
Josh Hokit by KO/TKO/DQ (-115)
Josh Hokit may be polarizing, but he rarely leaves room for debate inside the Octagon. The undefeated heavyweight won his first eight professional bouts inside the distance before showing his mettle in a highly competitive unanimous decision win over division staple Curtis Blaydes.
Hokit landed north of 175 significant strikes during that bout, a suffocating pace that should prove too much to handle for 41-year-old veteran Derrick Lewis. While “The Black Beast” owns the UFC record with 16 KO/TKO wins, he has also been put to sleep eight times. That includes his most recent bout earlier this year, when he got starched by another rising contender in Waldo Cortes-Acosta.
