Overview

• UFC plans a South Lawn fight card at the White House on July 4, 2026 as part of America250, with distribution aligned to Paramount+ and potential CBS broadcasts.
• In an interview with Helen Yee, Covington pleaded with Dana White to add him to the card and said the president asked for his inclusion, a claim not confirmed by UFC officials.
• He called out lightweight Paddy Pimblett as his preferred opponent and urged him to move to welterweight, naming Gilbert Burns as a fallback option.
• Covington said he has spoken with UFC matchmaker Hunter Campbell and is aiming to return in October or November, possibly at Madison Square Garden, or in December in Las Vegas.
• No bouts have been announced for the White House event, and Pimblett’s lightweight title ambitions plus Covington’s two-fight skid make the matchup uncertain, as Dana White has also voiced doubts about Jon Jones headlining.