The president and other top officials are expected to attend the fight. The South Lawn is expected to be filled with 5,000 guests, including members of the military. Fans will be able to watch from the nearby Ellipse. UFC also has a map of bars<\/a> showing the fights.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mr. Trump has sought to bring the fights to his presidential turf for almost a year<\/a>, and UFC executive Dana White is a longtime friend of the president. The UFC event is just the first of a number of events marking the country’s 250th birthday. The Great American State Fair<\/a> and the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., are other events on tap this summer from\u00a0Freedom 250<\/a>, a Trump-aligned organization planning events for the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.<\/p>\n The view of the White House from nearby streets has been altered by the setup of star-spangled rigging, which towers at over 92 feet and encloses a UFC Octagon. Mr. Trump told reporters the rigging \u2014 known as the “Claw” \u2014 will come down after the fight.\u00a0<\/p>\n Members of the media view the arena for the UFC Freedom 250 fights on the South Lawn of the White House, June 11, 2026.<\/p>\n AP Photo\/Alex Brandon<\/p>\n Two Virginians\u00a0sued over the planned fights<\/a>, arguing UFC had been unlawfully granted “unfettered access to the White House … to stage a private, for-profit sports event, with all the promotional and branding opportunities that accompany such access.”\u00a0<\/p>\n A judge on Friday declined to block the event<\/a>\u00a0after the president’s Justice Department, with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche at the helm, defended the administration’s plans, asserting that the plaintiffs filed their case too late and couldn’t prove harm.\u00a0<\/p>\n “It would be easy enough to simply avert their gazes for the weekend,” the Justice Department said in a filing. “Instead, they seek to enlist the power of a federal court to impose their idiosyncratic preferences on the rest of the country and ruin an event designed to celebrate the United States of America.”<\/p>\n The president invited some of the fighters to the White House last month.\u00a0<\/p>\n President Trump meets with UFC fighters Alex Pereira, Ilia Topuria, Justin Gaethje and Ciryl Gane in the Oval Office of the White House on May 6, 2026.<\/p>\n Anna Moneymaker \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n The main card event promises to be an interesting fight. Topuria, or “El Matador,” is undefeated at 17-0, and Gaethje, known as “The Highlight,” is considered the underdog.\u00a0<\/p>\n “First of all, it’s not gonna be the biggest in UFC history; I think it’s gonna be one of the biggest events in sports history, one of the more memorable ones,” Topuria said<\/a>, according to UFC. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime, very unique event, and being able to be part of an event like this \u2014 especially headlining an event like this \u2014is something I feel very grateful about. I’m very excited for what’s coming.”<\/p>\n But an undisputed UFC title would be a first for Gaethje, who is eager for the challenge.\u00a0<\/p>\n The two have had a personal scuffle online, after Gaethje made comments about his opponent’s ex-wife.\u00a0<\/p>\n “All that guy is, is a gimmick,” Gaethje told\u00a0Fox Sports Australia<\/a>. “He calls himself the king. He thinks he’s a God. … I couldn’t imagine being in a room with him for 30 minutes listening to him talk about himself \u2026 And I can say this: I would leave him. That’s all I’m saying. I would leave him.”<\/p>\n Topuria said: “Justin crossed a line.”<\/p>\n![\"APTOPIX](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/ap26162464579963.jpg#.jpeg\")
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