US President Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday on Sunday by hosting a UFC fight card on the South Lawn of the White House, turning the presidential grounds into an outdoor arena where thousands gathered to watch cage fights under the banner “UFC Freedom 250.”Trump, accompanied by UFC President Dana White, exited the Oval Office amid chants of “USA!” Military personnel, political figures and fighting enthusiasts attended the event. The parade was held to celebrate Trump’s birthday and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Trump, a longtime UFC supporter who has a 25-year relationship with White, received birthday wishes from supporters gathered on the South Lawn, with one fan shouting “Merry Christmas!” As the crowd cheered.The event came just hours after the United States and Iran announced an agreement to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a major global energy shipping route. Against this backdrop, the White House opened its grounds for one of the most bizarre sporting events ever at the presidential residence.
According to a court filing from the National Park Service, more than $60 million and tens of thousands of man-hours were invested in building the temporary plaza on the South Lawn.
The first fight of the evening featured Diego Lopez and Steve Garcia in a featherweight bout inside the Octagon, which was housed under a massive four-sided structure known as the Claw. The structure rises more than 90 feet into the air and houses giant screens, lighting equipment, speakers and extensive wiring to support the outdoor event.
Garcia entered the stadium wrapped in the American flag and accompanied by two police officers, while Lopez came out to the tune of the Mexican song “La Chuna.”The ceremony included large-scale national performances. The US Marine Corps Band performed in front of the White House, while country singer Zac Brown performed the national anthem. The fighters’ introductions were handled by longtime UFC announcer Bruce Buffer, whose attire featured gold stars and miniature American flags.A flyover featuring the Navy’s Blue Angels and Air Force’s Thunderbirds has been added to the scene.White had previously said the event would go ahead regardless of weather conditions, despite severe thunderstorms and lightning that disrupted a promotional event at the Lincoln Memorial on Friday.
The forecast on Sunday evening also indicated the possibility of adverse weather.The outdoor fight card represents the latest chapter in the long-standing relationship between Trump and White. White’s first UFC event as president of the promotion was held at the Trump Taj Mahal in 2001. Since returning to office, Trump has attended four UFC events as president and often received fighter-style interventions accompanied by music and patriotic anthems.White has also played a prominent role in Trump’s political activities, presenting at two Republican National Conventions and attending numerous high-profile White House events.The main card featured seven all-male matches, including two title fights that aired on Paramount+. Brazilian fighter Alex Pereira was scheduled to face Frenchman Cyril Jean for the interim heavyweight title, while lightweight champion Elia Topuria was scheduled to face interim champion Justin Gaethje.Additional matches included former title challengers Michael Chandler and Derrick Lewis, as well as former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley.UFC middleweight champion Shawn Strickland was escorted from an event near the Ellipse by police officers and placed in a park police car earlier Sunday. Strickland, who was barefoot and wearing a black jacket, recently claimed on social media that he was excluded from UFC activities at the White House because of his criticism of Israel.It was not immediately known why the police acted.White denied suggestions that Strickland was banned from participating in UFC Freedom 250 activities.“No one is off limits. Nothing is off limits,” White told reporters earlier this month.
