The White House has begun construction on a UFC fighting cage on its South Lawn ahead of next month’s event to celebrate 250 years of American independence. Workers were seen assembling domed arches and a staging area, which based on online renderings, will form an octagon-shaped ring surrounded by a wire-mesh fence and thousands of temporary seats.
US President Donald Trump previously said the project will be the “biggest event” the UFC has ever had, featuring an “arena right outside the front door of the White House”.
Dubbed UFC Freedom 250, the event is due to take place on 14 June, with the UFC set to spend around $60m (£44.3m) on the project.
Despite the large-scale promotion, the event will be headlined by just two championship title fights. Brazil’s Alex Pereira will go up against France’s Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC heavyweight crown, while Georgian Ilia Topuria is set to take on current interim champion Justin Gaethje for the lightweight bout.
UFC president Dana White said earlier this month that 4,300 people will watch the event on the South Lawn, most of whom will be members of the military, while 85,000 tickets will be made available for free to members of the public to watch the event at the nearby Ellipse Park.
The UFC said no tickets will be on general sale to the public.
“I have never seen anybody want anything so much as people want those tickets,” Trump previously said on the demand.
The promotion will also offer “high roller” packages for some VIP guests, granting them special access at the event. The UFC did not confirm the cost, but guests will reportedly need to fork out $1.5m, according to respected MMA journalist Ariel Helwani.
The UFC said it will not profit from the event, according to its parent company TKO Group Holdings, with president Mark Shapiro saying the show is “an investment for the long term”.
The White House has hosted recreational sports and events in the past, but the UFC’s show will mark the first professional live sporting event to take place on the grounds.
The event marks another White House construction in a series of projects by the Trump administration to remake the residence.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has added gold details to the Oval Office, paved over the rose garden to install a patio space, refurbished the bathroom attached to the Lincoln bedroom, and demolished the East Wing to make room for a new ballroom.
By BBC News
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