The UFC has been warned not to do “too much.”

Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC

As the promotion gears up to start the 2026 schedule and $7.7 billion broadcast deal between UFC and Paramount on January 24, an event six months down the line is one of the most discussed at the start of the new year.

President Donald Trump announced UFC fights at the White House last summer, and Dana White and the UFC have since been working out the logistics for the national celebration on June 14.

All the while, plenty of major names in the UFC have called for a spot on the card, and it appears that many will be getting their wish.

According to Jon Anik, UFC White House could have seven title fights. Kamaru Usman expressed his disagreement with that potential move, and ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ is not alone…

Chael Sonnen does not like the idea of title fest at UFC White House

UFC legend Chael Sonnen recently became the latest notable name to react to the promotion’s audacious reported plan for the White House event.

During an interview with The Schmo, ‘The Bad Guy’ used another promoter’s mistake to tell White and the UFC why including multiple title fights on the card in Washington D.C. would be an error.

“Everyone’s talking about there’s going to be seven title fights — which, by the way, I hope that there’s not,” Sonnen said.

“It’s a little much. Just as a fan, I’ve been to events. There’s one that Scott Coker put on but there were three title fights…they all went the distance. It was too much.

“It was 75 minutes of seeing three fights. It was too much. I think it’s a big mistake,” he added.

“We’ve got some huge fights out there. The Conor (McGregor) one we are discussing, the big rumor of (Alex) Pereira vs. (Jon) Jones. But those fights have one thing in common, there’s no belt.

“We don’t have to do a belt and we damn sure don’t have to do seven.”

Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva face off during a UFC press conference in 2014

UFC’s only American champion faces a race to be fit for the White House

Among those vocally staking their claim for a spot on the White House card is Kayla Harrison, and she has a better claim than most.

The women’s bantamweight champion is the only active American titleholder in the promotion and suggested that fact should net her a space on the lineup in Washington D.C.

But the 135-pound queen now has a major hurdle to overcome in the form of a significant injury.

Harrison has pulled out of UFC 324, where she was scheduled to defend her title against returning women’s GOAT Amanda Nunes.

The former judoka underwent surgery to repair herniated discs in her neck. Six months has been tentatively highlighted as her return timeline, marking the exact time until the UFC White House event on June 14.