UFC Freedom 250 is set to bring a seven-fight card to the White House on Sunday, June 14th, and fighters are bracing for sweltering outdoor conditions as much as their opponents.
The event, staged outside at the iconic location, is expected to unfold in evening temperatures around Washington D.C. reported at 95 degrees with 83% humidity. Fighters on the card, including Alex Pereira, Justin Gaethje, Sean O’Malley and Michael Chandler, have been working to acclimatize to the heat and humidity.
“I put myself in the sauna before my workouts so I can work out with my body heat elevated,” Justin Gaethje said. “Or I go in the sauna mid-workout and really peak my temperature so that I have to perform in that atmosphere. All I can do is try to replicate the conditions I’m going to be in. But I have been here the last few days and gone out around the time I’m going to fight and it’s been nice. Nothing compared to the sauna.”
Sean O’Malley is also keyed in on the climate factor. “Humidity is a real thing,” he said. “It will get your heart rate higher than it typically would be inside an air-conditioned environment and as a fighter, your goal is to keep your heart rate low. That’s the biggest thing.”
Michael Chandler pointed to his usual environment as a plus. “I train down in hot, humid, bug-filled South Florida,” he said. “We’ve trained outside a bit, hit some pads outside and moved around outside. But I’m not going to sit here and say I’ve done a whole lot of training outside for this … More than anything, if I say I’m stacking myself up against and opponent and you add these extra variables, I like my chances 10 times out of 10 of handling it better … And I certainly like my chances [in] 100 degrees and humid better than my opponent.”
The outdoor setting is described as hosting some of the biggest and most important UFC fights to take place outside, with heat and potential water on the canvas adding an extra layer of unpredictability. Fans can watch UFC Freedom 250 on Paramount+.
