Traders: Trump’s White House UFC Bash Will Be a Betting Boom

Posted on: February 19, 2026, 12:42h. 

Last updated on: February 19, 2026, 12:43h.

Mark Keast Read More
Expertise: Canadian Gaming, iGaming, Las Vegas, Sports Betting, NFL, Boxing, UFC.
  • McGregor posts that he had been offered an opponent for White House UFC card 
  • Rousey announces comeback – but not under the UFC banner
  • Sportsbook traders expect huge betting volume for White House UFC event

Lots of MMA news to chew on this week, with our story about prep for the upcoming UFC White House card, Conor McGregor on his X feed first accepting a supposed invitation to fight in that event, then deleting the post late Tuesday night. Then the big news that female MMA star Rhonda Rousey was coming back after a 10-year hiatus on May 16 to fight long-time rival Gina Carano. Carano is coming out of retirement as well.

Conor McGregor interacts with media after BKFC 70 Hollywood at Hard Rock Live in Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino last March in Hollywood, Florida. (Image: Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images)

That latter news is most interesting. Because Rousey isn’t coming back to fight under the UFC banner. Instead that fight is being promoted by Most Valuable Promotions, Jake’s Paul’s company, and will be broadcast on Netflix.

Live On Netflix

The UFC started their new 7-year, $7.7 billion broadcast deal with Paramount, another streaming service, in January. UFC 324 in late January was the first event to be broadcast on Paramount +, highlighted by a memorable lightweight division fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett for the interim title, with Gaethje coming out on top. That event reached 7.18 million households in the U.S. and Latin America. According to the UFC, UFC 324 also reached more homes than any other live UFC event in nearly a decade across linear, broadcast and streaming (source: Adobe Analytics and Nielsen Media).

Rousey though, was busy playing up on the MMA’s potential with an X post of her own, about her upcoming Netflix fight:

“This rivalry has so many layers – @netflix isn’t playing around – bet you we can beat @paramountplus’ @ufc numbers”

Boffo Paramount Numbers

Maybe. Netflix has over 300 million global subscribers. Paramount has over 79 million, according to Reuters. Still, Rousey versus Carano has a Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson, empty spectacle feel to it.

The UFC under CEO and President Dana White has a massive White House event coming up in June, which will no doubt set new viewership highs on Paramount.

When news broke last year that U.S. President Donald Trump wanted a live UFC event on the front lawn of the White House to help commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary, McGregor said he wanted to fight in it.

McGregor hasn’t fought in the UFC Octagon since breaking his leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. He was supposed to make his comeback against Chandler at UFC 303 in June 2024 but had to pull out weeks before because of an injured toe. McGregor has lost three of his last four UFC fights.

Betting Projections

McGregor posted this week that he had been offered an opponent and a date and he accepted, and was just waiting on a contract. Then he deleted the post, reportedly. White said a day before that while the White House card was “done” he wasn’t releasing any details, and was scheduled to meet Trump this week to talk about it.

The White House event will feature a smaller fight card, apparently, seven or eight fights. And talking to sportsbook traders, it will be a sports betting boom.

“This UFC event will be one of the most anticipated in recent memory, between the fighters and the unique spectacle it’s shaping up to be,” said Ethan Useloff, Sports Trader at Fanatics Sportsbook. “We’ve seen tremendous betting excitement for fights featuring significant names, such as Volkanovski, Pereira, and Dvalishvili, especially for numbered events.

Justin Gaethje helped attract the most betting action in the past year at UFC 324, and if the American faces Ilia Topuria on the South Lawn, I’d expect betting on the card to surpass his previous one. UFC betting continues to rise, and placing an event at the White House on Flag Day will only continue this rapid growth.”

Fast Start

Brandon Yaeger, Combat Sports Lead Trader at Caesars Sportsbook, said betting on UFC is off to a “hot start” this year so far, while volume is up a good amount.

“Hard to say exactly what the White House will generate with no fights being officially announced, but obviously it will have a lot of the more casual audience involved, so I think the event will be huge,” he said.

Drew O’Dell, a spokesperson from BetMGM, said UFC 324 was the highest handle UFC event of all time, beating out UFC 312, the previous record holder.