Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday by hosting the first professional sporting event in the 250-year history of the White House, transforming the South Lawn into a mixed martial arts arena for a UFC fight night. The spectacle, which also commemorated the forthcoming 250th anniversary of US independence, saw thousands of spectators gather under a giant steel canopy, with military flyovers overhead, creating an atmosphere described as a demonstration of American power.
The event, held on Sunday night, defied initial weather concerns as no rain fell despite forecasts of thunderstorms. It culminated in one of the biggest upsets in UFC history, with Justin Gaethje rallying to defeat the previously unbeaten Ilia Topuria after four brutal rounds, claiming the undisputed lightweight championship. Gaethje referenced American history in his post-fight comments, stating, "Two hundred and fifty years ago, we were way bigger than six-to-one underdogs, and look at this country now."
However, the evening's celebratory tone was significantly marred by a crude and offensive comment made by heavyweight prospect Josh Hokit. Following his second-round TKO victory over Derrick Lewis, Hokit presented Trump with a necklace before delivering a rambling post-fight interview. This included an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory claiming that "Michelle Obama is a man," a long-standing and false smear against the former First Lady. The remark elicited mixed reactions from the crowd, with some cheering and others expressing bewilderment.
The event also featured other nationalistic undertones. During former UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley’s fight against Canada’s Aiemann Zahabi, Trump was seen wearing a “USA” hat cageside, while sections of the crowd chanted “U-S-A!” and even “Canada is the 51st state!” – echoing previous comments made by Trump regarding America's northern neighbour. O’Malley’s victory was celebrated as the first win by an American fighter over a foreign-born opponent on the card, further amplifying the nationalistic fervour.
The guest list for the unusual event highlighted a convergence of politics, technology, and combat sports, with figures such as Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg, the Winklevoss twins, cabinet officials, and foreign dignitaries in attendance. Despite the controversies, the fights themselves were consistently entertaining, with every bout on the seven-fight card ending by knockout or technical knockout, a first in the UFC’s 33-year history.
Source: The Guardian