"Tell me a bigger sports story": How the UFC conquered Trump's Washington
Summary
The UFC, led by CEO Dana White, is hosting the first professional sporting event ever held at the White House’s South Lawn. The event features top MMA fighters and is closely linked to President Donald Trump, who is a fan and has appeared at UFC events during key moments in his political life.Key Facts
- The UFC has grown from a fringe sport to a major player in American sports, partly through its association with President Trump.
- President Trump appeared at UFC events after his 2023 indictment and 2024 guilty verdict, using the sport to connect with a large audience.
- UFC’s parent company, TKO, signed a $7.7 billion deal with Paramount and formed partnerships with the FBI and State Department.
- UFC Freedom 250, costing over $60 million to produce, will be held on the White House South Lawn on June 14, Trump’s 80th birthday.
- About 1,400 of the 4,300 seats are personally controlled by Trump, and special commemorative coins bearing his face are being sold.
- Mixed martial arts is seen by fans as a complex and demanding sport combining different fighting styles, but some critics see it as overly violent and linked to negative ideas of masculinity.
- UFC operates with a business model that critics say favors executives and aligns with authoritarian regimes for image purposes.
- A recent poll shows that 51% of Americans disapprove of UFC Freedom 250, while only 17% approve.
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