Brandon Moreno issued a clear rejection of the idea of competing at the UFC’s planned White House event, reinforcing a current of skepticism among fighters as the June 14th South Lawn showcase draws closer. Speaking during UFC Fight Night 268 media day in Mexico City, the former two-time flyweight champion dismissed the idea entirely, offering a pointed reply to questions about his willingness to participate.
“Brother, I want you to tell me why I would want to be there… I’m not interested. Thank you very much,” Moreno said, expressing both irritation and clarity in his stance.
WATCH:
Brandon Moreno clearly has no interest fighting at White House for billionaire sexual abusers who are dehumanizing Hispanics daily & executing American citizens in the streets
— MMA Joey (@MMAJOEYC) February 26, 2026
Good for him immediately shutting down this reporter pic.twitter.com/EVk7Gzr6R9
The UFC’s South Lawn card is timed to coincide with the United States’ 250th anniversary and has been promoted as a landmark moment for MMA, bringing the sport into a rarefied political setting. Instead of universal excitement from the roster, the event has faced notable opposition from several top athletes.
Brandon Royval, another prominent flyweight, drew a sharp comparison to the “Hunger Games” and stated his discomfort with fighting for an audience of politicians and billionaires rather than MMA fans.
The sentiment has reached across divisions. Two-weight champion Alex Pereira indicated little interest in making an appearance, writing that it “looks like the White House is a NO GO!!!” in a social media post on his Instagram. His message adds to the matchmakers’ challenge of assembling a compelling card.
While fighters such as Conor McGregor and Jon Jones remain publicly interested in the high-profile stage, the pushback from high-ranking names like Moreno and Royval raises questions about the UFC’s ability to present a star-studded event in Washington, D.C. The reasons for the resistance are nuanced. Moreno declined to elaborate on whether his refusal was political, personal, or strictly professional. Currently competing in Mexico City to retake his place at the top of the flyweight division, Moreno’s focus is clearly on his own career priorities, not external narratives.
For some, the opposition is overtly political or cultural. Royval’s comparison to dystopian spectacle underscores an unease among certain fighters about serving as entertainment for a political elite. The event’s planned timing and location carry obvious symbolism in an election year, and for some fighters, including Moreno, who was the UFC’s first Mexican-born champion, the opportunity does not outweigh their reluctance to engage in what they perceive as political theater.
The UFC has continued to market June’s event as a unique spectacle, but the company has not addressed the refusal of key fighters or confirmed the final card. At present, it is unclear whether the rising opposition will affect the overall caliber of matchups on offer.
Brandon Moreno’s blunt statement has become a defining moment of the build-up. “Brother, I want you to tell me why I would want to be there? … I’m not interested. Thank you very much.”
As June approaches, the UFC faces the challenge of assembling a card that can meet their ambitions for the sport’s profile while respecting the individual priorities of the fighters. The outcome remains uncertain as competing perspectives play out in public ahead of what could be a historic or contentious moment for MMA.
