Trump-backed UFC event planned at the White House - Media
Donald Trump, President of the US (photo: Getty Images)
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has planned to hold a mixed martial arts tournament on the grounds of the White House, according to NBC News.
Details about the championship are currently unavailable, but President Donald Trump stated that he would like to see it as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the US, which will be marked on July 4, 2026.
“We’re going to have a UFC fight on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there,” Trump said on Thursday in Des Moines, Iowa.
He noted that he expects the title fight to take place before an audience of 20 to 25 thousand people.
“Every one of our national parks, battlefields and historic sites are going to have special events in honor of America 250. And I even think we’re going to have a UFC fight,” the president added.
Details unknown
At this time, it is unclear how advanced the preparations for the event are or how finalized the decision is to actually hold it. A UFC representative stated that additional information will be announced at the appropriate time.
Former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor, who has not fought since July 2021, expressed interest on social media in returning to the ring specifically for the event at the White House.
“I would be honoured. Count me in!” he wrote.
Trump is a close friend of UFC President Dana White, who has frequently appeared at his campaign rallies. Immediately after winning the 2024 election, Trump invited White onto the stage to thank him for his support during the campaign.
A few days after returning to the White House in November last year, Trump, along with Elon Musk, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and future Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., attended a paid UFC tournament at Madison Square Garden.
NBC News recalled that Trump has longstanding ties to the world of combat sports. Since the 1980s, he has held high-profile boxing matches at his Atlantic City hotels and frequently appeared at UFC events.
Recently, UFC updated its rankings of top fighters. Leading the list is Georgian-Spanish fighter Ilia Topuria.
Earlier, Ukrainian fighter Serhii Sidei defeated American Garrett Armfield, marking his first victory in the UFC.
