Thousands Pack Lincoln Memorial for $60 Million UFC White House Fight Weekend
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 13
Thousands Pack Lincoln Memorial for $60 Million UFC White House Fight Weekend
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 13
Summary
Thousands of fans gathered at the Lincoln Memorial on Friday for a UFC news conference ahead of Sunday’s bouts in an Octagon built outside the White House.
The $60 million weekend is being staged to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary and Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, with supporters traveling from across the U.S. and as far as Australia.
A federal judge allowed the event to proceed Friday after the Public Integrity Project sued, calling it a private commercial use of sacred federal monuments for private gain.
Ipsos polling from February and March found only about 1 in 10 U.S. adults identify as MMA fans, with that audience skewing male, nonwhite and more Republican than Democratic.
Fans at the memorial largely brushed off criticism, framing the White House setting as part of a broader combat-sports tradition rather than a political spectacle.