Heavyweight fighters Derrick Lewis and Josh Hokit will compete on the South Lawn of the White House at UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday, June 14, 2026.
The matchup was finalized after a direct scheduling request from United States President Donald Trump to UFC CEO Dana White.
Trump noticed Lewis was omitted from the initial six-fight card during an April event in Miami.
White then called Lewis, who immediately agreed to participate in the historic event.
Lewis enters the fight following a recovery period after a January loss to Waldo Cortes-Acosta. He attributed the performance to a back injury while weighing nearly 300 pounds.
The 41-year-old fighter holds the promotion record for most knockout wins with 16.
He commented on the classifications of his discussions regarding the event booking, saying, "It's classified."
Lewis expressed concern over his 28-year-old opponent's quick return to action.
Hokit absorbed 214 strikes in a unanimous decision victory over Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 just 64 days prior.
"I believe so," Lewis told MMA Junkie on Friday. "He had to have some time off.
I don't care how.
Even if he wanted to fight a couple of seconds, I still believe your body and your brain still need time off.
I believe he's making a mistake."
Lewis reflected on his personal journey from serving three and a half years in prison for a probation violation to headlining a card at the executive mansion.
"It was pretty cool," he said. "The significance of it is like, life is like a movie.
If you hear my story, know everything that I've been through.
Coming from the bottom of everything you could really think of, going all the way to the top.
It's crazy. Somebody needs to write a book about my life."
Known for eccentric post-fight antics that include removing his uniform inside the Octagon, Lewis humorously recalled his post-fight request to officials: "Please let me take my pants off."
The Houston-based brawler added that while he had not met Trump in person during fight week, he remembered their phone call following a July 2025 match in Tennessee.
"The crowd was so loud after my fight in Tennessee, I couldn't really hear what he was saying," Lewis said.
"He did sound like the 'South Park' character."
Hokit, an undefeated former Division 1 All-American wrestler holding a 9-0 professional record, entered the contest ranked No. 5 in the division.
That is four spots ahead of the No. 9-ranked Lewis.
The pay-per-view broadcast of the seven-fight card is scheduled to begin at 8 p. m.
ET on Sportsnet+.
