The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is preparing for an unprecedented event this weekend, as it stages a series of fights at the White House to commemorate 250 years of the United States. Named 'UFC Freedom 250', the spectacle will see a specially constructed cage on the South Lawn, hosting seven professional mixed martial arts bouts.
The event, scheduled for Sunday, 14th June, also coincidentally falls on the 80th birthday of US President Donald Trump, a known close associate of UFC President and CEO Dana White. White has reportedly promised a memorable fight card, which includes a lightweight title bout between current champion Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, as well as an interim heavyweight title fight featuring Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane. Other notable contests include Sean O'Malley vs Aiemann Zahabi and Derrick Lewis vs Josh Hokit.
While general admission to the White House grounds for the fights will be by invitation only, primarily for military personnel with an expected 4,300 attendees, fans will have the opportunity to watch the event from the adjacent Ellipse park. Approximately 85,000 free tickets have been made available for the Ellipse, where large screens, stages, and music will create a festival atmosphere. The main fight card is scheduled to begin at 1am BST on Monday for UK viewers.
For those in the UK wishing to watch the action, the event will be streamed live on Paramount+, TNT Sports, and HBO Max. In the US, CBS will also provide live coverage. Preceding the fights, a press conference is set for Friday, 12th June, at the Lincoln Memorial, followed by a fan festival at the Ellipse on Saturday, 13th June, which will include a ceremonial weigh-in and a concert by the Zac Brown Band.
Security for the high-profile event is expected to be extensive, a significant concern given the location. UFC CEO Dana White has previously commented on the stringent security measures at the White House, highlighting the role of the Secret Service in protecting the President, particularly in light of recent security incidents.