)
UFC President Dana White spoke with reporters following UFC 327 on Saturday night in Miami, Florida. During the media scrum, White commented on the MMA promotion's historic event planned for the White House.
The UFC Freedom 250 event is scheduled for June 14th, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States and coinciding with President Donald Trump's 80th birthday. The fight night will feature seven bouts, including two title fights, and will take place on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington D.C.
Trump has long been a close associate of UFC CEO Dana White. He has attended numerous UFC events cageside, most recently UFC 327 in Miami on Saturday. While the connection between the UFC and Trump is well-established, hosting a fight night at the White House undoubtedly solidifies this relationship.
MMAJunkie.com asked White if he was concerned that deepening the UFC's relationship with Trump might alienate fans who disapprove of his politics and administration. White dismissed such concerns, stating that with UFC Freedom 250, the organization is not taking a political stance.
"I don't think that way," White stated at the UFC 327 post-fight press conference. "It's not like I'm going out and saying... Even if you look at my speeches at the Republican Convention, they're never political. I never talk about one side or the other. This guy (Trump) is a very good friend of mine, and that's all it is. And he's a big fan of the sport."
Trump himself has been involved in the event's planning. Last Saturday, during UFC 327, he requested that one of his favorite fighters, Derrick Lewis, be included on the card. White immediately called Lewis and arranged a match for him against Josh Hockit, who that same night defeated Curtis Blaydes in one of the best heavyweight fights in the organization's history.
Trump has a long history with MMA, including hosting UFC events at his "Taj Mahal" in Atlantic City in the early 2000s.
"I did a lot of interviews this week for major media outlets, and I talked about this yesterday. They ask me: 'Could you ever have imagined it?' Well, no, of course not," White said. "I've always believed in the brand and the sport and thought it could become big, but you don't think about things like that. We constantly work with world leaders, heads of state, presidents, and all sorts of political figures from around the world. It's crazy where MMA can take you."
,fit(112:112)&format=webp)
,fit(112:112)&format=webp)
&format=webp)
&format=webp)
&format=webp)