In the garden of the White House, work is underway to build a temporary arena dedicated to mixed martial arts. Here, on June 14, coinciding with Trump\u2019s 80th birthday, an event will take place hosting several MMA bouts. The initiative is part of the celebration program organized for the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence, proclaimed on July 4, 1776.<\/p>\n
In the past, Trump had already expressed the idea of organizing MMA fights in the White House garden. The project came to fruition mainly thanks to the close friendship between the U.S. president and the head of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world\u2019s leading mixed martial arts organization.<\/p>\n
How the MMA arena at the White House is structured<\/p>\n
The temporary MMA arena set up in the South Lawn of the White House<\/a> \u2013 called The Ellipse, due to its elliptical shape \u2013 will include an octagonal ring, a double arch decorated with the colors of the U.S. flag, and an area where a musical band will perform. The arena is expected to have a capacity of about 5,000 seats. In addition, a separate area will be set up to accommodate up to 85,000 people, who will be able to follow the event on a series of giant screens.<\/p>\n For a long time, MMA was considered a niche sport, practiced mainly in small arenas. The discipline was long perceived as excessively violent \u2013 with frequent cases of athletes suffering knockouts or bleeding during fights \u2013 and characterized by regulations considered insufficient. In recent years, however, mixed martial arts have become increasingly popular, to the point of being considered a “mainstream” sport. Major events are now broadcast in dozens of countries, and the best-known athletes have gained a global following \u2013 also thanks to social media.<\/p>\n Although similar fighting traditions already existed in various countries, MMA developed and established itself mainly in the United States, partly reworking the Brazilian discipline known as “Vale Tudo”, where two athletes from different martial arts faced each other with almost no restrictions.<\/p>\n Where MMA popularity comes from
\n @msnow<\/a> Trump says the UFC arena taking shape on the White House lawn for the upcoming UFC fight could potentially get the \u201cEiffel Tower treatment,\u201d staying up long after the event ends \u2014 similar to how the Eiffel Tower outlived the 1889 World’s Fair. MS NOW\u2019s Erielle Reshef has the latest. #news<\/a> #trump<\/a> #politics<\/a> original sound – MS NOW<\/a> <\/p>\n