Donald Trump says the White House South Lawn will host a UFC event on June 14, with a temporary 5,000-seat arena built to stage a seven-fight card headlined by Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje.
Trump said construction on the open-air structure, which will hold the octagon-shaped cage, is set to begin shortly. “The arena, they're going to start building it over the next week,” he said, adding, “It's all free. It's going to be great.”
According to Trump, another 100,000 spectators are expected to watch the fights on screens from the nearby White House Ellipse. A mockup of the 90-foot tall temporary arena has already been assembled in Lititz, Pennsylvania.
The June 14 date lines up with Trump’s 80th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding. UFC CEO Dana White has said he believes this will be the most-watched UFC event ever. Trump has frequently attended UFC events in recent years, including a card in Miami on April 11.
