{"id":639046,"date":"2026-06-15T00:12:20","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T00:12:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/639046\/"},"modified":"2026-06-15T00:12:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T00:12:20","slug":"trump-ufc-fight-live-white-house-cage-matches-pushed-back-as-storms-threaten-presidents-birthday-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/639046\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump UFC fight live: White House cage matches pushed back as storms threaten president\u2019s birthday event"},"content":{"rendered":"

White House offers first look inside UFC Freedom 250 octagonYour support helps us to tell the story<\/p>\n

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President Donald Trump\u2019s UFC event at the White House <\/a>has been delayed as the Washington, D.C., area braces for intense weather<\/a> this evening. <\/p>\n

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for parts of Washington and the surrounding states until 11 p.m. local time, with forecasters warning<\/a> of possible hail, wind gusts up to 70 mph and frequent lightning. The fights will now kick off at 9 p.m. local time, an hour later than expected, due to weather concerns, according to NBC News<\/a>. <\/p>\n

In response to reports of poor weather, the White House Rapid Response team declared<\/a> the celebrations would continue \u201crain or shine.\u201d<\/p>\n

More than 4,000 people will gather in a massive arena on the White House\u2019s South Lawn<\/a> for tonight\u2019s UFC event, which also falls on the president\u2019s 80th birthday. Another 120,000 spectators are expected to attend a watch party at the Ellipse, a 52-acre park just south of the White House. <\/p>\n

All 14 fighters successfully made weight Saturday during ceremonial weigh-ins at the Ellipse. Following their official morning weigh-ins, the athletes took the stage in front of thousands of fans. <\/p>\n

Earlier this week, the Public Integrity Project filed a lawsuit attempting to stop the UFC event<\/a>, which it called \u201cdeeply corrupt.\u201d A federal judge declined to block the event in a ruling issued Friday. <\/p>\n

<\/a>Fans gather for watch party at the Ellipse<\/p>\n

Thousands of fans are gathering for a watch party at the Ellipse, a massive park located just south of the White House.<\/p>\n

\"ThousandsThousands of fans are gathering for a watch party at the Ellipse, a massive park near the White House (Getty Images)\"Tonight'sTonight’s UFC event at the White House could face complications from severe thunderstorms expected in the region this evening (Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Katie Hawkinson15 June 2026 00:57<\/p>\n

<\/a>Fight start time could be ‘fluid’: report<\/p>\n

The start time for the first fight on the White House South Lawn remains \u201cfluid,\u201d a UFC official told the media outlet Uncrowned<\/a>. <\/p>\n

This comes as NBC News<\/a> reports the start time has been pushed to 9 p.m. local time, an hour later than expected, due to weather concerns. <\/p>\n

The Independent has reached out to UFC for more information about the expected start time for tonight\u2019s event. <\/p>\n

Katie Hawkinson15 June 2026 00:45<\/p>\n

<\/a>What happens to the ‘Claw’ after tonight’s event?<\/p>\n

Tonight\u2019s UFC event will take place in the \u201cClaw,\u201d a massive arena on the White House\u2019s South Lawn. <\/p>\n

Construction on the \u201cClaw\u201d started late last month and finished last week. <\/p>\n

Now, a sworn statement <\/a>from a Trump administration official indicates the arena will be \u201cdisassembled immediately\u201d after Sunday\u2019s event. \u201cDemobilization\u201d of the structure will begin tomorrow morning, the statement indicated. <\/p>\n

Read more about the demolition plans below:<\/p>\n

Katie Hawkinson15 June 2026 00:38<\/p>\n

<\/a>Fights could be put on pause over nearby lightning strikes<\/p>\n

Thunderstorms are expected in the Washington, D.C., area tonight, which could impact the White House\u2019s UFC event. Forecasters have warned that hail, heavy winds and lightning are all possible.<\/p>\n

If lightning strikes within eight miles of the White House\u2019s South Lawn, it will trigger an \u201cautomatic 30-minute freeze\u201d for tonight\u2019s event, according to The Weather Channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Katie Hawkinson15 June 2026 00:19<\/p>\n

<\/a>In pictures: Top administration officials arrive at White House<\/p>\n

Several Trump administration officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, have arrived at the White House for tonight\u2019s UFC event.<\/p>\n

Check out their entrances:<\/p>\n

\"TransportationTransportation Secretary Sean Duffy was sporting a pair of sunglasses as he arrived at the White House ahead of President Donald Trump’s UFC event (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon)\"WhiteWhite House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and his wife, Katie Miller, smiled as they arrived at the White House (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon)\"HealthHealth and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. makes his way to the White House on Sunday afternoon (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon)\"SecretarySecretary of State Marco Rubio seen from behind as he arrives for the UFC fight night at the White House (AP Photo\/Alex Brandon)<\/p>\n

Katie Hawkinson14 June 2026 23:50<\/p>\n

<\/a>Schedule update: UFC fights to kick off hour later than expected<\/p>\n

Tonight\u2019s fights at the White House will now kick off at 9 p.m. local time, an hour later than expected, due to weather concerns, according to NBC News<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 11 p.m. local time, with forecasters warning<\/a> of possible hail, wind gusts up to 70 mph and frequent lightning.<\/p>\n

Katie Hawkinson14 June 2026 23:34<\/p>\n

<\/a>In pictures: Protest forms near White House ahead of UFC event<\/p>\n

Protesters have gathered near the White House to protest the Trump administration ahead of tonight\u2019s UFC event.<\/p>\n

\"ProtestersProtesters gathered near the White House Sunday afternoon to protest the Trump administration (AP Photo\/Rod Lamkey)\"TheThe protesters gathered in Lafayette Square just hours before the UFC event, which will bring 4,000 spectators to the White House’s South Lawn (REUTERS)<\/p>\n

Katie Hawkinson14 June 2026 23:18<\/p>\n

<\/a>Watch live: Trump attends UFC event staged at the White House<\/p>\n

Katie Hawkinson14 June 2026 23:14<\/p>\n

<\/a>Eric Trump jokes ‘UFC started early’ as he posts photo from White House<\/p>\n

Eric Trump, the president\u2019s second son, shared another post on X ahead of tonight\u2019s UFC event at the White House<\/p>\n

Katie Hawkinson14 June 2026 22:53<\/p>\n

<\/a>Severe thunderstorm watch issued for DC area<\/p>\n

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the District of Columbia, parts of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, in effect until 11 p.m. EDT tonight.<\/p>\n

Jasmine Fern\u00e1ndez14 June 2026 22:25<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"White House offers first look inside UFC Freedom 250 octagonYour support helps us to tell the story From…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":639047,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[49,50,51,47,52,48],"class_list":["post-639046","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-headlines","tag-headlines","tag-news","tag-top-news","tag-top-stories","tag-topnews","tag-topstories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/639046","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=639046"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/639046\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/639047"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=639046"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=639046"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=639046"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}