What once sounded like a passing comment has become reality.
This weekend (Monday morning in Australia), the UFC will make history by staging a fight card on the White House grounds, an event that has its roots in a friendship stretching back more than two decades.
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The idea itself reportedly emerged from a simple exchange between US President Donald Trump and UFC boss Dana White.
According to White, Trump first floated the idea while the pair were sitting together at UFC 309 in Madison Square Garden back in 2024.
“You know what? We should do a fight at the White House,” Trump said.
White’s response was quick.
“Yes, yes we should.”
What followed was years of planning that culminated in the construction of an one-of-a-kind arena on America’s front lawn as part of celebrations surrounding America’s 250th
anniversary.
WHEN NOBODY WANTED THE UFC
To understand how UFC Freedom 250 became a thing, you have to go back to the company’s early years.
In the early 2000s, mixed martial arts was still fighting for legitimacy in the States.
Many casinos and arenas refused to host UFC events, and the renegade promotion was dismissed by many as being just too violent. Senator John McCain famously called it “human cockfighting”.
According to White, Trump was one of the few people willing to take a chance on the upstart company.
Trump allowed the UFC to have events at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City at a time when the organisation was struggling to find venues.
White has been friends with Trump ever since.
“In 2001, my partners [Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta] and I bought the UFC, and it was basically considered a bloodsport,” White said in 2016.
“State athletic commissions didn’t support us. Arenas around the world refused to host our events. Nobody took us seriously. Nobody. Except Donald Trump.
“Donald was the first guy that recognised the potential that we saw in the UFC, and encouraged us to build our business.
The gesture helped form a friendship that has lasted through the UFC’s transformation from a small promotion into a global powerhouse worth billions.
“Donald championed the UFC before it was popular, before it grew into a successful business, and I will always be so grateful to him for standing with us in those early days,” said White.
White says the pair stay in touch, but rarely talk politics, but instead “goofy guy stuff that all guys talk about.”
TRUMP’S LONG HISTORY WITH COMBAT SPORTS
Long before he became one of the UFC’s most visible supporters, Donald Trump was deeply involved with boxing.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Trump hosted some of the sport’s biggest events at his Atlantic City casinos, helping turn the city into a huge fight destination. The big fights drew the big punters.
His venues staged enormous title fights featuring stars such as Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis and George Foreman.
Indeed it was in Atlantic City in 1989 that Trump hosted one of the greatest moments in Australian sport when South Grafton underdog Jeff Harding took on Dennis Andries.
Trump leapt to his feet as Harding made an astonishing comeback in the final round to chop Andries down and claim the WBC light heavyweight championship.
Trump developed a close relationship with Tyson in particular during those years, hosting several of the heavyweight’s biggest fights at his casinos.
“I enjoy it — I’ve always enjoyed boxing,” Trump told the LA Times in 1988 ahead of Tyson-Spinks fight.
“Of course, my interest is also financial, but I just enjoy boxing.”
Trump said his interest in the sport started in 1971 when Muhammad Ali squared off with Joe Frazier in Madison Square Garden in one of the greatest showdowns of all time.
Matty Johns interviews Gaethje | 04:54
“I believe Ali-Frazier I remains unequaled,” said Trump.
In 2018, Trump issued a posthumous pardon to boxing legend Jack Johnson, the first African-American heavyweight champion.
Johnson had been convicted in 1913 under the Mann Act for traveling across state lines with his white girlfriend – who would later become his wife.
“It’s my honor to do it. It’s about time,” Trump said at the time.
While Trump’s roots in combat sports lie in boxing, he has become one of the UFC’s most visible supporters over the last few years — and according to White knows a lot of the fighters.
“(Trump) calls me twice a month and will talk to me for an hour about fights that have happened since the last time that we talked,” White said following UFC 287.
“He knows everybody. He knows what they did and who they fought last. He’s a huge fight fan.”
Trump’s favourite fighter in the UFC is American knockout artist Derrick Lewis, who has the most KO’s in company history.
When the president discovered Lewis wasn’t scheduled to compete on the White House card, he immediately raised the issue with White.
“Why isn’t Derrick Lewis on the card?” Trump reportedly asked the UFC boss.
White quickly got to work, contacting Lewis and arranging a bout within hours.
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HOW THE UFC WHITE HOUSE EVENT WILL LOOK
Dana White is promising a show unlike any other – and he’s used to putting on one-of-a-kind events.
In 2024 the UFC had a show at the Las Vegas Sphere to celebrate Mexican Independence.
White reckons Monday’s UFC Freedom 250 event will top that.
“The Sphere should’ve won every award there is in production,” White told TNT Fight Sports.
“It did not. Which doesn’t surprise me, very political. If we don’t win every production award for the White House fight, they should just stop doing production awards, because you’re full of s**t. …
“The main event guys will come from the Oval Office,” he added. “The walkouts and everything for this fight are incredible and a one-of-one.”
White also maintains that it will be the biggest MMA event in history.
“For UFC fans all over the world, this is a very unique experience for everybody,” White said.
“We’re expecting Super Bowl-type numbers for this fight.”
Volk declares Ruffy ‘ WILL Be Champion’ | 04:30
Trump has said it’s “going to be one of the biggest sporting events ever” and marvelled at the construction taking place.
“It’s quite attractive to a lot of people…,” he said.
“Maybe we’ll never ever take it down.”