UFC fight venue takes shape outside White House for Trump birthday event

By Yolaine De Kerchove Dexaerde & euronews Published on 28/05/2026 - 11:43 GMT+2 Share Comments Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Copied

Construction has begun on a UFC octagon outside the White House ahead of a fight night linked to Donald Trump’s 80th birthday celebrations and the 250th anniversary of the United States.

US President Donald Trump is set to bring a UFC mixed martial arts event to the White House grounds as part of celebrations marking both his 80th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the United States.

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Construction of an octagon-shaped cage on the White House lawn has already begun ahead of the event, which Trump says will feature top UFC fighters.

The event reflects Trump’s long-standing ties to combat sports. He became the first sitting US president to attend a UFC event in 2019.

The White House card is expected to include two title fights, including a heavyweight bout between France’s Ciryl Gane and Brazil’s Alex Pereira. Spanish-Georgian champion Ilia Topuria is also expected to appear.

The UFC plans to distribute tens of thousands of free tickets, while large outdoor screens will be set up nearby for additional spectators.

The announcement has sparked mixed reactions online, with some fans criticising the planned fight card for lacking some of the sport’s biggest stars, including Jon Jones and Conor McGregor.

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• cage fight
• Sport
• White House