Donald Trump hosted a UFC event on the White House Lawn for his 80th birthday. Fighters from around the world joined the celebration, marking a unique moment for the sport. The event called Freedom 250 featured seven fights and celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence's signing. UFC President Dana White and Trump enjoyed chants of "USA! USA!" as they watched the action. Bo Nickal won his match and thanked Trump for the opportunity. The event highlighted the close relationship between Trump and White, with thousands of fans attending, including notable figures like Mark Zuckerberg.
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President Donald Trump has confirmed a deal to end the war with Iran and allow oil traffic to begin again through the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement on social media came just a couple of hours before the president was slated to celebrate his 80th birthday and the nation’s 250th anniversary with an unusual White House event: a UFC show featuring seven fights within an eight-sided, wire-mesh cage on the White House South Lawn.
A massive UFC event is set to take over the White House's South Lawn. The temporary arena resembles a cross between a UFO and a claw game in a video arcade and features an eight-sided cage and a towering structure of lights, speakers and wiring called The Claw. The event celebrates President Donald Trump's 80th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The National Park Service is contesting a lawsuit to block the event, which costs more than $60 million. The fights are scheduled for Sunday night, with additional activities planned throughout the weekend. UFC chief Dana White insists the show will go on, rain or shine.
UFC heavyweight Josh Hokit is embracing his bold style ahead of the company's debut at the White House. He is scheduled to fight Sunday on the South Lawn in a mixed martial arts show celebrating President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and the nation’s 250th anniversary. UFC CEO Dana White insists the event will proceed despite potential bad weather. The fight card features two championship bouts, including Alex Pereira versus Ciryl Gane and Ilia Topuria against Justin Gaethje.
The White House's South Lawn has hosted many sports over the decades but never a UFC fight like the one President Donald Trump is organizing for his 80th birthday. The lawn is known for low-contact sports like T-ball and putting and joyful events geared toward children or bipartisanship. Now the lawn features an octagon cage and arena seating for upward of 5,000 people. This marks a shift from past presidential sports traditions. Teddy Roosevelt introduced sports to the White House with a tennis court in the early 1900s. Other presidents added their own sports facilities. Trump's love for UFC reflects his cage match approach to politics and his connection with UFC chief Dana White.
AP Wire
A federal lawsuit seeks to halt the upcoming UFC fight card on the White House South Lawn in a mixed martial arts show timed for President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and part of the celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary. The filing Saturday by the Public Integrity Project on behalf of two Virginia resident contends the Trump administration’s authorization of the June 14 event violated National Park Service regulations prohibiting sporting events on federal parklands. It also says Congress didn't consent to the towering arch overlooking the event space and no environmental review was conducted before the construction. The White House says the lawsuit is “baseless.”
Doors open at 5:45 p.m. and fights start at 7.
The event was also the highest grossing single-day sporting event at the Yum! Center with 19,578 fans in attendance.
MMA fighter and coach Phillip Perkins said it's a beautiful venue.