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A fight organised by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to take place at the White House, coinciding with Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, the president announced, despite earlier announcements scheduling the event for July 4.
“On June 14 next year, we’re going to have a big UFC fight at the White House — right at the White House, on the grounds of the White House,” Trump told a crowd of Navy sailors at the huge naval base Norfolk in Virginia.
He did not mention that his birthday is on June 14 or that he will turn 80 next year.
On his 79th birthday this year, he hosted a military parade intended to honour the establishment of the US Army.
In August, UFC president Dana White announced that the mixed martial arts match at the White House would take place on July 4, 2026, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of America’s founding.
Trump has frequently attended UFC events, which are known for their intense competition, where fighters engage in punches, kicks, and grappling in a no-holds-barred struggle until submission or knockout.
Bringing such a violent sport to the heart of US political authority will represent a significant first.
During a press conference available on UFC’s YouTube channel, White said that “early next year we’ll start planning the White House card, which I will tell you right now will be the greatest fight card ever put together in the history of this company.”
The Ultimate Fighting Championship stands as the largest and most successful organisation in the rapidly growing field of mixed martial arts, which combines various martial arts styles, including jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, boxing, and wrestling.
Fights occur within an eight-sided arena known as “The Octagon,” enclosed by a chain-link fence. With few exceptions, such as eye-gouging, fighters of both genders can use nearly any tactic to strike their opponent.
The sport’s allure among young men, a vital demographic in the upcoming 2024 US election, and Trump’s longstanding connection with the UFC have made him a consistent presence at many prominent events, where he is welcomed like a celebrity.
Its violent nature and high risk of injury render the sport contentious, with medical professionals warning about the dangers of brain injuries for fighters who endure repeated head strikes, although it has gained broader societal acceptance in recent years.
