UFC Freedom 250 at the White House Features No Female Fighters, Departing from Standard UFC Practice
UFC Freedom 250, scheduled for the White House South Lawn on President Trump's 80th birthday, will feature no female fighters — a notable departure from standard UFC practice. Major UFC events have historically included women on the same cards as men, with the organization long touting gender integration as a hallmark of the sport. The omission has prompted criticism from sports scholars and former fighters who argue it signals whose participation is considered essential at a politically charged event.
UFC Freedom 250, billed as a celebration of the United States' 250th anniversary and timed to President Trump's 80th birthday, will take place on the White House South Lawn this Sunday without any female fighters on the card — an unusual absence for a major UFC event. UFC CEO Dana White said he attempted to book a bout between Zhang Weili and Mackenzie Dern but could not finalize it, citing Weili's time off. Critics, including sports sociologist Kyle Green and author Jenn McClearen, argue the explanation is insufficient given the UFC's extensive roster of prominent female fighters and the considerable logistical resources devoted to the event. The UFC has for over a decade integrated women into its cards under the same rules and in the same octagon as men, a structure McClearen describes as genuinely remarkable but also commercially motivated. Former UFC fighter Julie Kedzie characterized the exclusion as consistent with White's pattern of adopting politically expedient positions, and connected it to a broader rightward shift in UFC culture since 2016. The event is also facing a pending court challenge, though preparations on the South Lawn are continuing. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has publicly opposed women in combat roles, is reportedly involved in setting physical requirements for military personnel attending the event.
What's missing
It is unclear whether any female fighters beyond Zhang Weili were formally approached or declined to participate, which would bear directly on White's claim that the absence was logistically unavoidable rather than a deliberate choice.
How coverage differed
Mother Jones frames the absence of women as emblematic of MAGA gender ideology and Dana White's political opportunism, drawing on critical voices from academics and former fighters. CBS News provides a brief, neutral behind-the-scenes report on event preparations without addressing the gender controversy at all.
What different sources said
- CBS NewsCenter
Behind the scenes of UFC Freedom 250
- Mother JonesLeft
The UFC’s Biggest Cards Nearly Always Include Women. Except at Freedom 250.
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