In celebration of America’s upcoming 250th anniversary, an octagon-shaped cage now stands at the White House, where state dinners, Easter egg rolls and ceremonial receptions have traditionally unfolded.
This week, workers began assembling a temporary arena on the South Lawn for a planned Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event to commemorate the semiquincentennial.
The bout is scheduled to take place on June 14, President Donald Trump‘s 80th birthday, and will feature two championship fights.
Brazil’s Alex Pereira will face-off with France’s Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title, while interim U.S. champion Justin Gaethje will take on Spanish-Georgian champion Ilia Topuria for the lightweight main event.
Also on the card is Derrick Lewis, who holds the UFC knockout record with 16, versus Josh Hokit in a heavyweight fight. Other bouts will feature big names Sean O’Malley, Michael Chandler, Bo Nickal, and Diego Lopes.
The setup, complete with towering lighting rigs, patriotic staging and seating for thousands, will transform the presidential grounds into an open-air fight venue.
Renderings released ahead of construction depict the signature UFC octagon positioned against the backdrop of the executive mansion, framed by giant video screens and red-white-and-blue decor.
Officials have also discussed overflow viewing areas in a park known as The Ellipse just south of the White House. According to the UFC, as many as 85,000 free tickets will be issued to accommodate spectators.
“I have never seen anybody want anything so much as people want those tickets,” Trump recently said of ticket demand. “That’s gonna be something.”
Debate surrounding the planned fight began swirling online, with critics and fans referring to the fight card lineup as “underwhelming” and its location potentially overshadowing the semiquincentennial’s historical significance.
Supporters view the event as a bold expression of modern American culture by combining longstanding ties between Trump and the UFC, as well as entertainment and a national celebration.
“This will be one of the greatest and most historic sports events in history,” said White House communications director Steven Cheung of the event, before calling it a “testament to [Trump’s] vision to celebrate America’s monumental 250th anniversary.”
Other planned functions include the “Salute to America 250” celebration on the National Mall showcasing “major speeches, spectacular flyovers, headline performances, and a breathtaking fireworks finale” during a weeks-long Great American State Fair.
The “Freedom 250 Grand Prix,” the first motor race ever to be held in Washington near the National Mall, will also take place, bringing drivers to a track that will pass by the White House and other national monuments.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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