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June 14 (UPI) — The South Lawn of the White House has been turned into a site for cage fights, hosting UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday.
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President Donald Trumpwill be in attendance for the event which is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. EDT. It is the first time a live sporting event will be held on the White House grounds, and it has drawn criticism leading up to the first bell.
The event is purported to be in celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary, which is not until July 4.
However, it coincides with Trump’s 80th birthday, which is Sunday. A federal lawsuit from the Public Integrity Project sought to stop the event from happening highlighted this fact as well as the damage being done to the South Lawn, lack of congressional approval and the use of the White House to promote a company that Trump has invested in and is friends with the owner of.
Judge Amit P. Mehta of the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia rejected the lawsuit on Friday.
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The Justice Department, defending the event, argued that the plaintiffs could not prove any harm had been done.
The event costs $60 million to put on. UFC President Dana White, who stumped for Trump during his presidential campaign, said the UFC will pay for $700,000 worth of restoration to the South Lawn.
The UFC constructed a large structure, referred to as the Claw, for the event. It is 92 feet tall, 154 feet wide and weighs 600 tons.
Five thousand people are expected to be in attendance on Sunday to watch a fight card headlined by the UFC lightweight championship bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje. There will be seven fights in total.
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UFC Freedom 250 will be streamed on Paramount+.
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This story was originally published June 14, 2026 at 12:43 PM.