U.S. President Donald Trump is set to transform the South Lawn of the White House into a mixed martial arts arena, hosting a night of cage fighting on June 14. The event, coinciding with his 80th birthday, is billed as part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.This seven-bout Ultimate Fighting Championship spectacle, named "UFC Freedom 250," will blend high-octane sport with political pageantry. It highlights President Trump's long-standing affinity for the league, whose leaders and many supporters have been vocal backers for more than a decade.Why UFC?Donald Trump's alliance with the UFC began in the early 2000s, when he hosted events at his now-bankrupt Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, as other venues spurned the sport. UFC CEO Dana White told Fox News in 2018 that Trump "gave us our start when nobody would talk to us."White became a close ally, using the sport's popularity, particularly with younger male fans, to support Trump's campaigns dating back to his first run in 2016. In 2019, Trump became the first president in office to attend a UFC match. His appearances have become part of the spectacle, often featuring a highly choreographed walk-in and ringside seats.South Lawn Cage MatchNow Trump is bringing the fighting to the White House. The South Lawn has been outfitted with an octagon-shaped cage and hulking metal arena structure called "the Claw" by White.Trump suggested holding such an event while ringside with White at a fight days after his 2024 election win, Time magazine reported.The seven bouts on June 14 will feature eight Americans and six others from four countries, all men. The title fight pits Justin Gaethje from the United States against Ilia Topuria of Georgia, both weighing in at 155 pounds. The pair will enter the arena from the Oval Office, White told the magazine. Weigh-ins will be held at ‌the ⁠Lincoln Memorial.The South Lawn has been outfitted with an octagon-shaped cage and hulking metal arena structure called "the Claw" (AFP via Getty Images)The CrowdTrump has touted the fights as the "hardest ticket" to come by of his presidency.Trump, his family and senior government officials will sit around the ring, and approximately 4,000 seats are being installed on the lawn for invited guests. The White House deferred questions about the guest list to UFC, which did not immediately respond.A fourth of the tickets are reserved for active military members. Troops must meet the military's physical standards and wear their short-sleeve dress uniforms to attend, the Washington Post reported.White has invited numerous celebrities, including Adam Sandler, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Tom Brady, according to Time.The UFC expects about 85,000 fans to gather outside of the White House perimeter to watch on big screens.The Bill And The BusinessThe White House has said the UFC is paying for the event.UFC parent company TKO Group Holdings TKO.Nexpects to spend $60 million on production and fighter payouts, said company president Mark Shapiro, according to Sports Business Journal. Shapiro and White have said the cost is worth the publicity.Sponsors include Crypto.com, a cryptocurrency company that in August 2025 announced a strategic partnership with Trump Media, the company that runs the president's social media platform, Truth Social.The event will be broadcast by Paramount PSKY.Omedia company, which began a $7.7 billion deal with UFC in February.Paramount's mega-deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery for $110 billion is undergoing regulatory review by Trump's administration.In May, Trump's financial disclosure form of thousands of recent stock trades showed a March 25 purchase between $15,001 and $50,000 in TKO Group Holdings while Trump promoted the White House event. The White House did not respond when asked about the purchase.