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June 14, 2026 / 6:18 AM EDT
/ CBS News
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Washington — For the first time in U.S. history, the White House will host United Fighting Championship bouts on Sunday, marking the nation's 250th anniversary and coinciding with President Trump's 80th birthday. Mixed martial arts fighters will square off on the White House South Lawn for UFC Freedom 250, culminating in a main card fight between Georgian-Spanish Ilia Topuria and American Justin Gaethje for the undisputed UFC lightweight championship. The main card is set for 8 p.m. ET and will be streamed on Paramount+, which is owned by Paramount Skydance, the parent company of CBS News. Earlier fights begin at 5 p.m. ET. The president and other top officials are expected to attend the fight. The South Lawn is expected to be filled with 5,000 guests, including members of the military. Fans will be able to watch from the nearby Ellipse. UFC also has a map of bars showing the fights. Mr. Trump has sought to bring the fights to his presidential turf for almost a year, and UFC executive Dana White is a longtime friend of the president. The UFC event is just the first of a number of events marking the country's 250th birthday. The Great American State Fair and the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., are other events on tap this summer from Freedom 250, a Trump-aligned organization planning events for the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.The view of the White House from nearby streets has been altered by the setup of star-spangled rigging, which towers at over 92 feet and encloses a UFC Octagon. Mr. Trump told reporters the rigging — known as the "Claw" — will come down after the fight.
