UFC Builds White House Octagon for June 14 Fight Card as Trump Touts 100,000 Spectators
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · May 26
UFC Builds White House Octagon for June 14 Fight Card as Trump Touts 100,000 Spectators
14 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · May 26
Scaffolding for the UFC cage is now rising over the White House South Lawn ahead of the June 14 "Freedom Fights 250" event tied to Flag Day and the U.S. 250th anniversary.
The card is set to feature undisputed lightweight champion Ilia Topuria against interim titleholder Justin Gaethje, plus four additional bouts, with some fighter prize money backed by Crypto.com.
Trump has said tickets will be free, with about 4,000 seats near the White House and another 75,000 to 100,000 spectators able to watch from the Ellipse on eight large screens.
UFC has also released renderings showing stadium seating around the cage and a separate "Freedom 250 Fan Fest" in Ellipse Park, underscoring the event's scale beyond the South Lawn.
What precedent does a commercial UFC event at the White House set for the future use of America's most iconic national landmarks?
As fighters walk from the Oval Office to the cage, how will this unprecedented venue transform the traditional fight night experience?
With a $60M price tag, what are the unseen challenges of building a UFC arena on the White House's historic South Lawn?