US President Donald Trump has presented a custom-designed championship belt ahead of a historic UFC event to be held on the South Lawn of the White House on June 14. The showcase coincides with America's 250th anniversary and Trump's 80th birthday.
The new belt features a USA-inspired flag across its centre and Roman numerals commemorating the nation's independence in 1776. The announcement was made during a meeting with UFC stars Ilia Topuria, Justin Gaethje, Alex Pereira, and Ciryl Gane in the Oval Office.
The main event will see Topuria defend his lightweight title against Gaethje, while Pereira and Gane contest the interim heavyweight championship in the co-main event. Other fighters scheduled to appear include Sean O'Malley, Michael Chandler, Josh Hokit, Derrick Lewis, and Diego Lopes.
Around 5,000 invited guests will be seated on the South Lawn, with an additional 75,000 to 100,000 people expected in a fan zone on the Ellipse. A small number of tickets are available, priced at £1.1 million, which include VIP access and other perks.
Trump described the event as the 'greatest show on Earth,' saying, 'June 14, we're having a big fight. It's never going to happen again; it's never happened before.'
