Alex Pereira Is Chasing History, and the Octagon in D.C. Is Going to Explode

Hold up, fight fans, because Sunday is shaping up to be absolutely WILD, and not just because we're talking about a UFC event on the South Lawn of the White House. Seriously, the White House! UFC Freedom 250 is dropping an event that’s controversial, intriguing, and straight up unique. We've got two title fights anchoring this insane card, and the stakes could not be higher. You do not want to miss this, I'm telling you.

Lightweight Drama Takes Center Stage

The main event is pure fireworks: Ilia Topuria, the reigning lightweight champ, is stepping into the Octagon to defend his crown against interim titleholder Justin Gaethje. And let me tell you, the beef between these two in D.C. has been dialed up to 11 all week. Topuria is absolutely fired up, apparently because Gaethje's dad called him "another short guy." Plus, there was some chatter about Gaethje seemingly referencing Topuria's now ex-wife after a nasty divorce. Gaethje, for his part, swears he never made a bad comment about the ex-wife and thinks Topuria is just looking for some extra motivation. Whatever the reason, this fight is personal, and the lightweight title is on the line. Expect a war!

Pereira's Shot at History

As if that wasn't enough, the co-main event is just as compelling, maybe even more so for the history books. We're talking about Alex Pereira, a dude who, in just 12 fights over five years, has become one of the biggest action stars in a generation. He's already conquered both middleweight and light heavyweight, which is insane on its own. Now, the Brazilian phenom is looking to make history by grabbing a piece of the heavyweight title, aiming to be the first fighter ever to hold titles across three divisions. He’s up against Ciryl Gane, who, let's be real, has repeatedly come up short in these massive spots. Will Gane finally get it done, or will Pereira etch his name in the record books? You know what I’m betting on.

Time to Get Back in the Black!

With a card this stacked, in such a wild location, there’s no doubt everyone's interest is piqued, including the sportsbooks. After going 3-2 with our best bets for UFC 328, we're sitting just below .500 for the year at 12-13. The goal for this weekend is simple: get back in the black! Our only rule remains that all bets must be at odds of -250 or better. One pick we're eyeing is Steve Garcia's moneyline at +124 against Diego Lopes. Lopes has shown a great chin against some heavy hitters, but Garcia could surprise everyone. Get ready to watch every single main card fight because this entire event is a main card affair. It’s gonna be epic.

Make sure you’re tuned in this Sunday for UFC Freedom 250. You can catch all the action, including round-by-round scoring and updated results, with our live coverage. Pereira making history, Topuria and Gaethje tearing each other apart, and us hopefully getting some wins on our bets. What a night this is gonna be!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.