Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is preparing to spend roughly $60m on a groundbreaking event at the White House.
The June 14 showcase will commemorate 250 years of American independence with an unprecedented fight card.
The plan was first revealed by US President Donald Trump and later confirmed by UFC president Dana White and parent company TKO Group Holdings. TKO president Mark Shapiro described the event as a strategic play rather than a revenue driver.
“I want to be clear about something: we will not profit from the White House event independently. We will not be making money on America’s 250th anniversary,” said Shapiro. He called it a long-term investment focused on visibility and brand exposure.
“Bottom line is, it’s still a moving target. Even if that $60m goes up, or rides up on us, we believe we can offset half of the spend. Today, we see it as $60m offsetting $30m.”
Historic White House fight night targets 85,000 fans across Washington
Although full fight details remain undisclosed, White expects around 5,000 spectators on the South Lawn. Additionally, nearly 80,000 fans could gather at the nearby Ellipse in Washington, DC.Trump has promised the “biggest” bouts ever staged, though no official matchups are confirmed. Several stars, including Jon Jones, Conor McGregor and Islam Makhachev, have shown interest.
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If realised as envisioned, the spectacle could become one of the most ambitious events in combat sports history.
Tags: Dana White, UFC, Ultimate Fight Championship, Conor McGregor, Jon Jones, South Lawn, Mark Shapiro, TKO Group Holdings, White House, Islam Makhachev.
