Construction has started on the White House lawn for a temporary Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) arena, set to host a cage match on 14 June to mark both the US’s 250th anniversary and President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. Cranes and other equipment were spotted on Tuesday as work began on the 5,000-seat venue, which Trump described as being built “right outside the front door of the White House”.
Online renderings show an octagonal cage surrounded by a red, white and blue stage beneath a towering arch decorated with stars and stripes, alongside two large screens for live action. Thousands of temporary seats will include space for a marching band. Trump first suggested the idea last July during a Fourth of July appearance in Idaho, initially proposing a 20,000–25,000-person event.
The fight card has been scaled down from earlier plans for eight or nine championship bouts. It now features two title fights: a lightweight championship between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, and an interim heavyweight title fight between Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane. Trump, a longtime MMA fan, is close friends with UFC president Dana White.
The construction has caused disruption for the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which relocated to Constitution Hall after 15 years in Maryland. Families staying at the nearby JW Marriott now face a longer walk around the Ellipse. Rajeev Malhotra, parent of a speller, described the scene as “two very disparate forms of entertainment”.
