Donald Trump announces plan to hold UFC fight at White House

Donald Trump will host a UFC fight in front of up to 25,000 spectators at the White House next year to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. He announced the news during a speech at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Thursday.

We’re going to have a UFC fight,” Trump said, via the New York Post. “We’re going to have a UFC fight — think of this — on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there.

“… We’re going to build a little — we’re not, Dana (White) is going to do it. Dana is great, one of a kind — going to be UFC fight, championship fight, full fight, like 20,000 to 25,000 people.”

Trump is an avid UFC fan, regularly attending events with his friend, UFC CEO Dana White. He most recently attended UFC 316 in Newark, New Jersey to watch the championship bout between Merab Dvalishvili (c) and former champion Sean O’Malley.

Now, the president is going to bring the UFC to his backyard in honor of the United States’ 250th anniversary of independence. It would likely be the culmination of Trump’s ‘America250’ initiative.

Of course, the news is sure to see some pushback from Trump’s critics and political opponents. A potentially bloody battle on the White House grounds appears more rooted in Civil War lore rather than a sanctioned bout between two trained athletes. Nonetheless, the UFC appears headed to Washington ahead of next year’s Fourth of July.

It’s unclear which fighters will be booked for the show, if it will be televised, or whether it will be a regular UFC Fight Night, or one of their patented five-fight pay-per-views. Given the occasion, Dana White may not pull any punches. Coupled with his relationship with the president, and the UFC will likely want to put on a show to remember for his good friend and the fans on-hand watching the event in Washington.

Trump’s announcement to have UFC at the White House comes just hours after his controversial “one big, beautiful bill” was passed by congress. It is being considered one of Trump’s first major legislative victory of his second term.

For the UFC, they’re set to host UFC 318 of pay-per-view on July 19 in New Orleans. Max Holloway will defend his BMF championship against Dustin Poirier in the main event. Poirier holds a 2-0 record against Holloway dating all the way back to 2012.