UFC Freedom 250 contruction starts at White House South Lawn

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: USA Today

May 25, 2026, 2:43 p.m. ET


Construction has begun at the White House ahead of UFC Freedom 250, according to photos circulating on social media. The most famous address in the United States, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, is beginning to look a lot like a fight venue.

With the June 14 fight less than three weeks away, crews have begun work on the temporary arena that will host the UFC Freedom 250, a fight card that is as much a celebration as it is a sporting event. The promotion released renderings last week showing the planned setup, including "the claw," a massive lighting and cover structure that was built in Europe and shipped to the United States specifically for the occasion. Dana White's stated vision is to keep the White House visible as the backdrop for every fight.

The venue will seat roughly 5,000 people, a mix of military members and guests invited by the UFC and the White House. No tickets are going on sale. Another 100,000 fans can watch on screens set up at the nearby Ellipse.

White says UFC and it's parent company TKO Group Holdings are picking up the tab. TKO president Mark Shapiro acknowledged on a financial call that the cost is a "moving target" expected to exceed $60 million. The promotion does not expect to turn a profit, but is counting on roughly $30 million in corporate sponsorships to offset expected losses. While the UFC is covering the restoration of the South Lawn after the event, it is not covering the cost for security, which will be significant. That will be coordinated between the Secret Service and local law enforcement at the tax payers' expense.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2026/05/25/ufc-freedom-250-construction-underway-white-house-south-lawn/90252117007/

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Waste. Fraud. Abuse.

[pfitz59]

1. How tacky can one get?

More desecration of 'the people's house'.

[sop]

2. They claim the White House grounds will be restored, but, knowing Trump, he'll probably use this as cover to

redesign the South Lawn to suit his (bad) taste.

[Walleye]

11. The south lawn will become paving stones painted green grateful

[displacedvermoter]

3. Weigh ins will take place at the Lincoln Memorial!

I guess they must know that in his younger years Abe was a pretty good wrestler!

Right...

[artemisia1]

4. Caligula loves his gladiators... /nt

[magicarpet]

5. Cock fights and pitbull dog fights to the death,...

.... entertainment will be simultaneously offered at the former Jacqueline Kennedy Rose Garden. Please be careful not to slip and fall on the puddles of animal blood.

All you can drink moonshine bars will be setup at the North & South White House porticos. Puke buckets and barfbags will be available upon need or request.

[RedWhiteBlueIsRacist]

6. White House should have tossed in Monster Truck & Mud Wrestling events for the low-brow crowd drawn to that UFC crap.

In other words, MAGAs.

[AverageOldGuy]

7. Will Trump . . .

. . . plan the UFC arena so it's permanent and can be used for:
-- female mud wrestling?
-- truck pulls?
-- Klan rallies with re-usable crosses for burning?


Nothing like a multi-use installation -- right??

[Walleye]

9. It's not even legitimate boxing. Who wants to watch this crap

[AverageOldGuy]

12. HEY!! Watch yourself!!

Lots of us good ol' boys out here who just live for some mud wrasslin' !!!!!!





/s

[Walleye]

13. Sports fans

[AverageOldGuy]

10. After posting this . . .

. . . I see other Patriots beat me to it.

I like the idea about cockfighting and dog fights!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And regular prayer meetings with speaking in tongues and laying on of hands and healing!!!

[Walleye]

14. And snakes!

[Walleye]

8. Oh goody, another opportunity for bribery

[Bayard]

15. Dignity of the Office of the Presidency

[J_William_Ryan]

16. UFC

Entertainment for Trump Cult members.

Thugs and criminals – the poorly educated and willfully ignorant; Beavis and Butt-Head go to Washington.