White House Builds UFC Cage for 250th Anniversary

The fight is part of a bigger series of events to mark 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed on 4 July 1776. Other planned activities include an IndyCar race that passes by the White House and a large national fair on the National Mall. Trump has called it the "biggest event" the UFC has ever staged. The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) reports that the UFC plans to spend about $60 million on the show. Reports about the arena's size differ slightly: the BBC says about 4,300 spectators, mostly military personnel, while the Washington Times says 5,000 seats. Another 85,000 free tickets will let fans watch on big screens at nearby Ellipse Park.

Despite the huge spending, the fight card has been criticised online for being weak, with only two championship contests. Brazil's Alex Pereira will face France's Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title, and Ilia Topuria will meet Justin Gaethje at lightweight. The weigh-ins will be held at the Lincoln Memorial. The cage adds to a wider building boom under Trump, who has redesigned the Rose Garden, demolished the East Wing for a new ballroom, and proposed a 250-foot arch near the Lincoln Memorial. Organisers say the cage will be taken down after the event.