The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) could potentially be coming to the grounds of the White House.
During a rally held in Iowa on Thursday, former President Donald Trump revealed his intentions to host a UFC event at the White House sometime in 2026. This proposed event is planned as part of the significant celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence.
Speaking to his supporters, Trump asked, “Does anybody watch UFC?” He then praised “The great Dana White,” the UFC CEO. Trump stated his plan: “We’re going to have a UFC fight on the grounds of the White House… We have a lot of land there. Dana’s going to do it… We’re going to have a UFC fight, a championship fight, like full fight, 20, 25,000 people and we’re going to do that as part of 250 also.”
He further added that the 250th anniversary would feature “some incredible events,” encompassing both professional and amateur sports, but stressed that the UFC fight would be “a big deal, too.”
This announcement underscores the long-standing close relationship between Donald Trump and UFC CEO Dana White. White has publicly supported Trump on numerous occasions, including speaking at the Republican National Convention and participating in his campaigns.
Trump is a familiar face at many UFC events, frequently sitting cageside. At the recent UFC 316 event in New Jersey, several fighters were notably seen interacting with him after their bouts.
While Washington D.C. has hosted UFC events in the past, a major professional sporting event taking place directly on the White House grounds would be unprecedented. The practical details of how such an event would be managed remain to be seen, though the UFC itself shared a clip of Trump`s announcement on its official Instagram account.
Beyond the potential UFC event, Trump outlined other ideas for the America 250 celebrations, including the “Patriot Games,” a proposed competition where youth athletes from all 50 states would compete against each other in various sports.
Trump`s announcement also adds an interesting dimension to the UFC`s ongoing efforts to secure a new broadcast rights deal, which is set to commence in 2026. The unique opportunity to be the first sports promotion to host an event at the White House could serve as a significant advantage or highlight during negotiations, particularly as the UFC is reportedly seeking around $1 billion annually for the new agreement.
Wesley Dunham