Everyone knows about Topuria and Gaethje. Everyone knows about Pereira chasing history at heavyweight. Those fights deserve the attention they are getting. But UFC Freedom 250 is not a two-fight card — it is seven fights deep, and the undercard is loaded with reasons to stay planted in front of your screen from the first bell to the last. Here is why you need to watch every fight on June 14, not just the headliners.
Derrick Lewis and the Question of Legacy
Derrick Lewis is one of the most beloved figures in UFC heavyweight history. The "Black Beast" holds the all-time record for career knockouts in the heavyweight division — a record built over years of entertaining, sometimes chaotic, always unpredictable fights that made him a genuine crowd favorite regardless of where he competed. At 29-13, he faces undefeated prospect Josh Hokit on June 14 as a +270 underdog.
This could be a milestone moment for Lewis. Hokit is 9-0, young, ascending, and was personally requested for this card by the president after his UFC 327 performance. The matchmaking is not subtle. But Lewis remains dangerous in a way that few fighters at any record can claim — his knockout power does not diminish with age, and heavyweights with that kind of finishing ability are always one shot away from making any fight memorable. Watch this one carefully. You may see history being made in either direction.
Josh Hokit and the Unbeaten Run
If Lewis represents a chapter potentially closing, Hokit represents one beginning. He is 9-0 professionally, and his inclusion on this card — at the direct request of a sitting president — is an unusual form of validation that speaks to how his UFC 327 performance landed with people watching closely. He is a -350 favorite for a reason. An undefeated record at this stage of development, with this level of attention on him, is worth tracking. A win over a heavy-hitter like Lewis would do a great deal for his standing in the heavyweight rankings and the public consciousness.
Bo Nickal and the Wrestling Showcase
Bo Nickal is a three-time NCAA Division I national wrestling champion, which is the most elite wrestling credential any MMA fighter can carry. His progression as a mixed martial artist has been steady and impressive, and he enters his fight against Kyle Daukaus as a -330 favorite. Daukaus is on a six-fight UFC win streak and is not a soft opponent. Watch Nickal's wrestling in this fight — specifically how he controls positions, transitions between ground sequences, and looks for finishes. This is the kind of performance that tells you whether a prospect is on a legitimate path toward a title shot or still developing areas of his game that need work.
Steve Garcia: The Live Dog Nobody Is Talking About
The featherweight bout between Diego Lopes and Steve Garcia is getting minimal attention compared to the fights above it on the card, which is exactly the reason to pay close attention. Garcia has won seven consecutive UFC fights. Seven. That is a sustained run of competitive excellence that earns legitimate respect regardless of opponent quality. He enters this fight against Lopes as a +148 underdog, which implies roughly a 40 percent chance of winning. If you have been watching Garcia's recent performances, 40 percent feels conservative. This fight could be the best on the entire card, and it is the one people will be talking about on Sunday if Garcia does what his recent form suggests he is capable of doing.
Michael Chandler and What Comes Next
The Chandler-Ruffy fight is more than a lightweight bout. Michael Chandler is 23-10, a three-time Bellator champion and a fighter who has competed at the absolute top of the sport for fifteen years. Mauricio Ruffy is 13-2, 26 years old, and among the most dangerous lightweights in the current UFC roster. The -700 line on Ruffy reflects a real talent and age gap. But watching how Chandler approaches this fight — whether he comes out with the same relentless forward aggression that has defined his career, how he responds if things go badly early, what this performance says about his future — is its own compelling story.
The Full Picture
UFC Freedom 250 is being headlined by two championship fights and a historic venue. But the card beneath those main events is genuinely outstanding, and every single fight has a meaningful narrative attached to it. Lewis possibly going out in front of his biggest audience. Hokit establishing himself on a national stage. Nickal demonstrating whether his wrestling base translates fully at the highest level. Garcia potentially pulling the upset of the night. Chandler showing everyone who he still is. Clear your schedule for the entire evening on June 14 — you are going to want all of it. Check out the UFC odds page for live lines and use the FanDuel promo code if you want to get some action on the undercard.
