Dana White confirms UFC White House matchmaking begins today

One of the bigger storylines leading up to the event has been the question of whether Jon Jones might come out of retirement to join the card. It’s just one in a long list of talking points as things start to ramp up.

With so many high-profile names likely interested, it’s not going to be a straightforward process for the UFC.

Dana White posted on social media confirming that they’re starting to piece together matchups now.

There’s also been a lot of misinformation floating around about which fighters will actually be on the card. Posts and rumours have only added fuel to that fire.

The meeting is reportedly taking place today, with Mick Maynard flying in to help with selections. The plan is to have fights finalised by the end of this week.

UFC White House matchmaking hits a snag

Fans are already questioning how likely it is that the card will feature eight or nine title fights, especially after Donald Trump hinted at the possibility during an earlier interview with Ariel Helwani.

If the UFC were to follow through on that idea, it would make clear which matchups should be expected and which ones wouldn’t be realistic. But now, there’s been another update about what fans should expect from this event.

Speaking at MoffettNathanson’s 2024 Technology, Media & Telecom Conference, Ari Emanuel revealed that “there will only be six or seven fights”, without confirming whether any of them would actually involve championship belts.

On the surface, having fewer fights might seem like a more manageable task for matchmakers. But narrowing down who gets the call for such a limited lineup is going to be difficult given the number of fighters eager to take part in this historic card.