Adesanya Rejects Politics, says: I Want Nothing to Do with UFC White House Card

Israel Adesanya has made it clear he wants ‘nothing to do’ with the UFC’s upcoming White House card, distancing himself completely from the event even as fight week builds for his main event against Joe Pyfer in Seattle.

Speaking in a sit-down with Complex and as reported by LowKick MMA, the two-time middleweight champion explained that while he once found the idea of a UFC card at the White House intriguing, the current political climate has changed his view.

‘I won’t even go watch it there. I don’t want to be in the States close to that at all,’ Adesanya said, stressing that his focus is firmly on his fight at Climate Pledge Arena.

The White House card, branded ‘Freedom 250,’ has been marketed as a showcase of the UFC’s relationship with President Donald Trump, who returned to office in January 2025.

Adesanya has avoided giving a detailed political breakdown, but his recent social media activity has hinted at unease with the event’s overtones.

Instead, Adesanya is locked in on his bout against Pyfer on March 28, 2026.

He enters the fight looking to halt the toughest run of his UFC career, with setbacks in recent outings adding pressure to deliver a statement performance. His camp has included high-intensity training sessions with endurance icon David Goggins, footage of which has been shared in the build-up to the Seattle card.

For Adesanya, who proudly hails from Ilesha in Osun State, southwest Nigeria, the fight represents more than just another headline bout, it is a chance to reassert his dominance in the middleweight division while staying far removed from the politics surrounding the White House event.