UFC Builds 2-Title White House Card as Trump’s Influence Dominates Fight Week
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 11
UFC Builds 2-Title White House Card as Trump’s Influence Dominates Fight Week
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 11
Summary
Workers on Wednesday kept assembling a temporary arena on the White House grounds for Sunday’s UFC Freedom 250, where fighters repeatedly fielded questions about Donald Trump despite UFC’s effort to frame the show as a celebration of U.S. history.
Two championship bouts anchor what UFC calls one of its strongest cards: Ilia Topuria will defend the lightweight title, and Alex Pereira faces interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane while chasing a third belt in a new division.
Trump’s imprint ran through the buildup. UFC CEO Dana White pushed for the event at Trump’s urging, and middleweight Bo Nickal said a 2019 White House visit grew into a friendship that included golf with the president.
Diego Lopes denied reports that UFC barred his walkout song to avoid offending Trump, while heavyweight Josh Hokit briefly joked about throwing his protective cup at the president before trying to retract the remark.
Jon Anik, UFC’s lead broadcaster, said calling the event apolitical would fall on deaf ears, underscoring how the South Lawn spectacle is blurring sport and politics before fight night.