In a groundbreaking announcement, UFC CEO Dana White has confirmed that the Ultimate Fighting Championship will host a historic event at the White House on July 4th, coinciding with the United States’ 250th birthday. During an appearance on CBS Mornings, White solidified the plans for this unprecedented event, which had been teased earlier by President Trump.
“It is definitely going to happen,” White stated, removing any lingering doubts about the event's occurrence. The fight is set to be the first professional mixed martial arts event ever held on the White House grounds, a significant milestone for both the sport and the venue.
The event will take place on the nation's birthday, with a live broadcast on CBS. White shared that President Trump reached out to him personally with the request to stage the fight at the White House, expressing his desire to have his daughter, Ivanka Trump, involved in the planning. "When [Trump] called me and asked me to do it, he said, 'I want Ivanka in the middle of this.' So Ivanka reached out to me, and ... I started talking about the possibilities," White explained.
President Trump first announced the concept of a White House UFC fight earlier in July during a public address, as part of the broader America250 celebration activities. He expressed his enthusiasm for the UFC organization and its leadership, particularly Dana White, and outlined his vision for the event, which includes a substantial audience capacity.
“We’re going to build a little — we’re not, Dana is going to do it. Dana is great, one of a kind — going to be a UFC fight, championship fight, full fight, like 20,000 to 25,000 people, and we’re going to do that as part of ‘250’ also,” Trump said.
The fighter selections for the championship bout remain undetermined, with details to be announced at a later date. The confirmation of the event comes as the UFC continues to expand its reach, recently finalizing a $7.7 billion agreement with Paramount, signaling its growing market influence in professional sports entertainment.
The logistical preparation for the event will be substantial, with the White House grounds expected to accommodate 20,000 to 25,000 spectators. The transformation will pose a unique challenge for UFC production staff and Secret Service security personnel.
The America250 initiative includes numerous celebratory events across the nation’s historic locations, with national parks, battlefields, and historic sites all participating in the milestone anniversary recognition. CBS will serve as the exclusive broadcast partner for the White House UFC event, bringing the championship fight directly into American homes.
