All seven fights on the landmark UFC Freedom 250 card that will be staged on the grounds of the White House on Sunday night are now official.

Each of the 14 fighters on the card made their contracted weights at Saturday afternoon’s official weigh-ins, but one man stole the show in bizarre fashion before he stepped on to the scales.

UFC Freedom 250 was commissioned by the UFC to celebrate both the 250th anniversary of the USA and the 80th birthday of President Donald Trump. In a company first, the Octagon will be set up outdoors, as all the action will take place in a makeshift 4,300-seater arena on the South Lawn of the White House.

UFC Freedom 250 Main Events Explored

The card will be headlined by a pair of title contests. In the evening’s main event, Ilia Topuria will clash with Justin Gaethje for the undisputed UFC Lightweight Championship. At Saturday’s weigh-in, both men came in at the 155lbs required to make the bout official.

The co-main event sees the interim UFC Heavyweight Championship on the line as Brazilian legend Alex Pereira steps up to heavyweight to face Ciryl Gane.

Despite his move from light heavyweight, Pereira (251lbs) came in heavier than Gane (248lbs). The winner will meet full heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, in a unification bout in their next bout.

Both championship contests were made official without much in the way of drama. The same can’t be said for Josh Hokit’s weigh-in for his White House showdown with Derrick Lewis.

The undefeated Hokit has quickly made a reputation for his antics outside of the Octagon. The 9-0 American stayed true to form as he made his way to the scales on Saturday.

Hokit turned up to the weigh-in almost naked as he swayed back and forth, while claiming to be scared of Lewis, who holds the record for the most knockouts in UFC history.

UFC Fighter Weighs In ‘Drunk’ For White House Bout

Appearing to be ‘drunk’, the former American football player told media members in attendance:

In the middle of his statement, Hokit even seemed to throw up on himself. The 28-year-old had to be urged to stand still as he climbed on to the scales.

Eventually he did so, weighing in at 231lbs, making Sunday’s contest against Lewis (265 lbs) official.

In his three fights to date as a UFC fighter, Hokit has become known for his outlandish behaviour and there’s every chance that his newly-adopted downtrodden persona is simply a mind game heading into the biggest bout of his career.

Despite delivering one of the more unusual weigh-ins in UFC history, the fight is now official and Hokit will be intent on producing an eye-catching performance on Sunday night.

Tottenham are now set to make a big offer to sign a Liverpool star in the upcoming summer transfer window.

It looks set to be a busy market for Spurs as they look to improve on a dismal few years in the Premier League.

Liverpool have already seen a host of players head through the exit door, with Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate all departing.

Robertson left Liverpool at the end of his contract and has now joined Spurs, but he might not be the only player to make the switch between the two clubs.

Tottenham fans might have been worried that they were unable to attract players due to the lack of European football, but it’s been a strong start to the window so far, bringing in Robertson and Marcos Senesi.

Tottenham Preparing Big Offer

According to a report from Caught Offside, Tottenham are now preparing a big offer to sign Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo ahead of the summer transfer window.

Spurs are expected to make a formal approach soon, with an offer in the region of £60m being readied.

Gakpo’s future at Anfield is in doubt after a dip in form, and he has plenty of admirers in the Premier League and around Europe.

Tottenham are not the only club showing an interest in securing his signature, but it appears they are now in pole position to sign him this summer.

It remains to be seen whether Gakpo, described as ‘elite’, would be keen on a move to Tottenham, especially after they failed to qualify for any European football.

Tottenham Could Struggle to Attract Gakpo

Attracting a player like Gakpo could be difficult for Tottenham, considering he’s been so used to playing European football over the last few years.

The Dutch international might not be a regular for Liverpool heading into next season, so a departure wouldn’t be a surprise. Despite that, Spurs could still struggle in the race.

A strong World Cup could bring other clubs into the race to secure his signature, so there’s a chance Tottenham could look to get ahead in the coming days to beat the competition.

It’s still unclear whether Gakpo would be willing to make the move to Tottenham this summer, but his versatility could make him a smart option for Roberto De Zerbi’s side.

Folarin Balogun announced himself at the 2026 World Cup by becoming the first United States player to score twice in a single match at the tournament since 1930.

The 24-year-old found the net with his right foot to put his country 2-0 up before adding a thunderbolt with his left boot to make it 3-0 before half-time. Those goals helped Mauricio Pochettino’s men to a 4-1 victory against Paraguay on the opening day.

Balogun, born in New York, had the opportunity to play for either England or Nigeria, but chose to represent the USA in 2023. Current President Donald Trump, however, is trying to bring in a law that would’ve stopped him playing for the USMNT.

Folarin Balogun’s Accidental Birth in America

Matthew Childs via Reuters

While Balogun was born in the United States, he wasn’t supposed to be. His mother and father, from Nigeria, travelled from London to New York while his mum was pregnant.

The airline didn’t allow her to fly home while pregnant, so Balogun’s mother gave birth to him in America before taking him back to England two months later. Florence, his mum, explained:

Due to birthright citizenship laws, based on the 14th amendment to the US Constitution, Balogun was immediately granted US citizenship upon his birth. Trump, who has been back in the White House since early 2025, is currently pushing to change those laws. He wants children of immigrants or people visiting the country on temporary visas not to be automatically considered US citizens.

Per The Independent, the 79-year-old’s proposed law would have meant Balogun wouldn’t be an option for the US. Many citizens will be delighted that wasn’t the case 24 years ago after the striker’s impressive World Cup debut.

Why Balogun Chose USA Over England

Paul Childs (Action Images via Reuters)

Balogun grew up in England and represented the Three Lions at youth level, scoring seven times in 13 appearances for the Under-20s side. The former Arsenal forward then switched allegiances in 2023 and spoke of his pride.

In 2023, he withdrew from the England youth squad and met with the USMNT squad and interim manager Anthony Hudson in Orlando. Following that meeting, as well as chats with Christian Pulisic and Matt Turner, he opted to play for the US instead.

“When I broke the news to my family, they were all just over the moon, especially my mom,” Balogun explained (per ESPN). It’s believed a lack of a clear pathway into England’s starting XI could have been a big factor in his decision.

Balogun added how much it means to him to pull on the American shirt, saying: “To represent the United States means a lot, more than people would know. I’m very proud and honoured to have this opportunity, and I want to give everything I have to make our team successful.”

Statistics in this article are courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 13-06-26.