Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyle(AP)Jimmy Kimmel ridiculed the president's planned UFC Freedom 250 event, set to take place on the White House lawn this Sunday. The event coincides with the president's 80th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the United States. Kimmel highlighted the event's sponsorship by Monster Energy drink, joking it was a "perfect metaphor" for the administration. “Right now, there’s a 46 percent chance of rain in Washington on Sunday. The UFC CEO Dana White said the fight will go on even if lightning strikes, which... if God wanted the White House to be struck by lightning, that would have happened 18 months ago,” the late-night host and prominent Trump critic joked. “So I think they’re pretty safe.An octagon-shaped stage has been erected on the White House's South Lawn for the fights, which include Alex Pereira vs Ciryl Gane and Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje. UFC CEO Dana White revealed that Trump himself suggested the idea for the White House fights in November 2024, following his reelection. In fullJimmy Kimmel ridicules Trump over White House UFC event sponsor: ‘Perfect metaphor’Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

The elaborate setup introduces a ‘blood sport’ to a venue previously known for joyful, family-friendly activities

The UFC event on the White House’s South Lawn is the president’s birthday gift to himself. Sources expect it to be a lobbying extravaganza.

The UFC fighters won’t be the only bloodthirsty ones at the event.