President Donald Trump is set to celebrate his 80th birthday on Sunday by hosting the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) at the White House, marking the first time a major professional sporting event has been staged on the South Lawn. The event, dubbed 'UFC Freedom 250', features a 92ft steel structure nicknamed 'the Claw' and thousands of seats arranged in a mini coliseum.
The idea originated from Trump himself, according to UFC president Dana White, reinforcing ties with a league popular among young men. Critics have labelled it a 'blood sport'. The spectacle will include seven fights, with the main event pitting undefeated lightweight champion Ilia Topuria against interim champion Justin Gaethje.
The event has faced legal challenges from watchdog group Public Integrity Project, which sought an emergency injunction arguing the administration misused a rule meant for the nation's 250th anniversary commemorations. A judge denied the request on Friday. The lawsuit also highlighted Trump's financial disclosures showing he bought up to $50,000 in stock in UFC parent company TKO Group Holdings earlier this year.
Ominous weather forecasts have added to the uncertainty, with thunderstorms predicted for Sunday evening. UFC has two meteorologists on site providing hourly updates. The event is fully outdoors, a first for the organisation in its 33-year history.
Despite the challenges, the administration has pressed on, championing the UFC's virtues. At a White House media day, Sara Carter, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, honoured fighter Derrick Lewis for 75 consecutive clean drug tests. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a public-private partnership with the UFC, calling it the 'United Nations of fighting'.
