Photos showing the construction of a cage for Ultimate Fighting Champion (UFC) matches scheduled on Flag Day (and President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday) at the White House show that it’s even taller than the presidential residence.
Thick black arches framed 1000 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C. as of Wednesday in preparation for the fights. In a Tuesday X post, UFC on Paramount+ announced that construction had started on the signature UFC Octagon ring as part of “Freedom 250” events for the 250th’ anniversary of U.S. independence.
TIME reported that Octagon will have an 87-foot-tall canopy, “double the height of a typical UFC grid.” Per the White House Historical Association, the structure itself if 70 feet tall on the south end.
In a press release, the UFC said the July 14 UFC Freedom 250 fights will make up “the most unique event in UFC history.” It also said that interim lightweight champ Justin Gaethje will challenge Ilia Topuria for the “undisputed UFC lightweight title,” in the main fight on the South Lawn of the White House.
Audacy has reported on plans for UFC fights to come to the White House lawn since last summer, when Trump was just settling in to his second term as president and when a large parade marched through D.C. on flag day. At that time, Trump’s daughter Ivanka was reportedly working to bring a cage match to the nation’s capital for July 4.
“SEE YOU ON THE SOUTH LAWN,” said a White House X post from last September with an image of a UFC cage on the lawn.
Trump has also been seen at UFC fights in the past. For example, he was seen attending one with conservative media personality Tucker Carlson and musician Kid Rock back in 2023.
Earlier this month, Trump hosted UFC fighters in the Oval Office for an announcement about the July 14 event. He said there would be space for more than 4,000 fans right on the lawn, as well as space for up to 100,000 people at the Ellipse, a public park located south of the White House. Trump said massive screens will be showing the fight there.
“Our country is invited to this, it’s free,” said the president. He also said “this is a little different for these political people,” in the capital.
When asked by TIME why he decided to go for a UFC fight to celebrate the nation’s history, Trump said “No. 1, I like it,” and praised longtime UFC boss Dana White. TIME also noted that White has been a loyal Trump supporter and helped the president reach young male voters.
White has said the UFC will lose approximately $30 million on the White House event, according to TIME. However, he said it’s worth it since he thinks the event is “the greatest marketing tool of all time.”
Some have criticized the move to bring a huge fighting stage to the White House, including former GOP congressman Adam Kinzinger, who voted to impeach Trump in the past. He said in a Tuesday X post that it is a “disgrace.”
“History will remember this being an extreme low for our nation, among many other lows we keep bumping up against,” Kinzinger added.
According to The Hill, UFC fighter Brandon Royval compared the event to “The Hunger Games,” dystopian fantasy series focused on a death match in a televised public arena. In an X post, the Democratic Party argued money spent on the UFC even could go to healthcare instead.
“Dumocrats are opposed to anything that celebrates the greatness of our Country because they are America Last losers,” said Davis Ingle, a White House spokesperson, in a statement provided to Newsweek. “This will be one of the greatest and most historic sports events in history, and President Trump hosting it at the White House is a testament to his vision to celebrate America’s monumental 250th anniversary.”
