{"id":3545,"date":"2026-05-26T23:39:38","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T23:39:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/05\/26\/ufc-arena-under-construction-on-white-house-lawn-to-mark-trumps-80th-birthday\/"},"modified":"2026-05-26T23:39:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T23:39:38","slug":"ufc-arena-under-construction-on-white-house-lawn-to-mark-trumps-80th-birthday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=3545","title":{"rendered":"UFC arena under construction on White House lawn to mark Trump\u2019s 80th birthday"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"6239934d-d003-4bb8-a801-80c2c5990243\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"An aerial view shows large metal arches being installed on the White House South Lawn\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/6c45d4fb902eab695ebad6cf001767c5d8748470\/0_0_8640_5760\/master\/8640.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"310\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">The UFC is holding a mixed martial arts fight on 14 June 14 to mark the US\u2019s 250th anniversary and Donald Trump\u2019s 80th birthday.<\/span> Photograph: Mark Schiefelbein\/AP<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"6239934d-d003-4bb8-a801-80c2c5990243\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">The UFC is holding a mixed martial arts fight on 14 June 14 to mark the US\u2019s 250th anniversary and Donald Trump\u2019s 80th birthday.<\/span> Photograph: Mark Schiefelbein\/AP<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">UFC arena under construction on White House lawn to mark Trump\u2019s 80th birthday<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>The venue is expected to host a mixed martial arts fight on 14 June to also mark the US\u2019s 250th anniversary<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/news\/2026\/feb\/17\/sign-up-for-the-breaking-news-us-email-to-get-newsletter-alerts-direct-to-your-inbox?utm_medium=ACQUISITIONS_STANDFIRST&amp;utm_campaign=BN22326&amp;utm_content=signup&amp;utm_term=standfirst&amp;utm_source=GUARDIAN_WEB\" data-link-name=\"in standfirst link\">Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Construction is under way on the White House lawn for an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) arena that will host a cage match next month to mark the US\u2019s 250th anniversary and Donald Trump\u2019s 80th birthday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The mixed martial arts fight is planned for 14 June.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Photos of cranes and other construction equipment on the White House lawn Tuesday show the beginnings of the temporary construction. Trump has said that the finished project will feature \u201ca 5,000-seat arena right outside the front door of the White House\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Online <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/picture-gallery\/sports\/ufc\/2026\/05\/06\/trump-white-house-ufc-fight-renderings\/89966713007\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">renderings<\/a> depict what the completed, wire-mesh-fence-ringed fight space is expected to look like. The octagon-shaped cage will be ringed by a red, white and blue stage under a towering arch featuring stars and stripes patterns and two large screens carrying the action live.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"2717edef-5605-4d63-9031-2a0fc79cd74c\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div id=\"img-2\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Large metal arches being installed on a lawn\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/7235cee52788153d0e061b46d6e4fda60d4ab289\/0_0_8640_5760\/master\/8640.jpg?width=445&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"445\" height=\"296.66666666666663\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><a href=\"#img-2\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"2717edef-5605-4d63-9031-2a0fc79cd74c\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-fd61eq\"><span class=\"dcr-1inf02i\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Equipment is seen being placed on the South Lawn of the White House on 26 May.<\/span> Photograph: Mark Schiefelbein\/AP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The cage and stage will themselves be surrounded by thousands of temporary seats, including ringside space for a full marching band that can set the entire scene to blaring music.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/2025\/jul\/04\/donald-trump-says-he-wants-to-stage-ufc-fight-on-white-house-grounds\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">first floated the idea<\/a> of hosting a UFC fight on the White House grounds last year, during an appearance in Idaho on 4 July 2025 when he announced festivities planned to celebrate the country\u2019s 250th birthday on 4 July 2026.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cThink of this on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there,\u201d he said, originally adding that it would be a \u201cfull fight\u201d with 20,000 to 25,000 people in attendance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In December, Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mmafighting.com\/ufc\/460538\/donald-trump-ufc-white-house-will-have-eight-or-nine-championship-fights\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">said<\/a> the White House event would host \u201ceight or nine championship fights \u2013 the biggest fights they\u2019ve ever had.\u201d But like the size of the crowd, the number of fights expected to be held on the White House lawn has shrunk. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/sport\/2026\/mar\/11\/ufc-white-house-donald-trump-event\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">The fight card includes two title fights<\/a>: a lightweight championship fight between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje in the main event, and an interim heavyweight title fight between Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Trump has long been a fan of mixed martial arts, and is close friends with Dana White, the UFC\u2019s president.<\/p>\n<figure data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.NewsletterSignupBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-173mewl\">\n<div data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-ri3hap\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">As construction began on the White House lawn, competitors at the Scripps National Spelling Bee navigated around it on Tuesday. After 15 years at a convention center in Maryland, the spelling bee was relocated to Washington DC\u2019s Constitution Hall. Families staying at the nearby JW Marriott would usually walk across the Ellipse to reach the hall, but with construction there, families are making a longer trek around. The parent of one speller, Rajeev Malhotra, described the scene as \u201ctwo very disparate forms of entertainment\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\"><em>Associated Press contributed reporting<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/west-coast\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">West Coast<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/donaldtrump\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Donald Trump<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/sport\/ufc\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">UFC<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=UFC%20arena%20under%20construction%20on%20White%20House%20lawn%20to%20mark%20Trump%E2%80%99s%2080th%20birthday&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/26\/ufc-arena-white-house-trump-birthday?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F26%2Fufc-arena-white-house-trump-birthday&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/26\/ufc-arena-white-house-trump-birthday\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The UFC is holding a mixed martial arts fight on 14 June 14 to mark the US\u2019s 250th<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":3547,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3545","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3545","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3545"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3545\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3547"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3545"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3545"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3545"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}