UFC founder Dana White has promised to issue 85,000 free tickets for the promotion’s planned White House fight card scheduled for President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.
Currently there are plans to have around 5,000 VIP/military seats on the South Lawn for the June 14 event, with another 80,000 seats at the adjacent Ellipse Park.
‘There’s a park that’s right there,’ White said on the UFC’s YouTube channel. ‘We’re gonna be ticketing 85,000 people in the Ellipse and the tickets are free. We’ll announce how we’re gonna be giving them away soon, but you should plan on going to Washington DC for this event.’
It’s unclear what kind of vantage point fans will get from Ellipse Park, where they may be forced to watch on big-screen televisions. The UFC is believed to be picking up the entire tab for the event, which is projected to cost $60 million, according to the Sports Business Journal.
Plans for the MMA bout are proceeding for the White House despite domestic concerns about terrorism amid the ongoing war with Iran. Recent attacks at Virginia’s Old Dominion University and a Michigan synagogue are being investigated as acts of terrorism.
Podcaster and UFC announcer Joe Rogan recently expressed fears that the June 14 event will be targeted by pro-Iranian terrorists.
Although Joe Rogan (left) has expressed skepticism about security at the White House event, Dana White (right) is pushing ahead with plans to issue as many as 85,000 free tickets
It’s unclear what kind of vantage point fans will get from Ellipse Park (bottom left), where they may be forced to watch on big-screen TVs. The fights will take place on the South Lawn
‘It sounds crazy,’ said Rogan, who opposes the war with Iran. ‘It’s going to be very high security and high stress and weird to have a fight at the White House in the middle of a f***ing war.’
While UFC officials have promised unprecedented security measures for the event, Rogan was skeptical tensions can cool by mid-June.
‘I would hope the war will be sorted out by June, but quite honestly, I’m not confident that’s going to be the case,’ Rogan admitted.
‘It will be weird, having this high-profile event where everybody is in one place at one time right there,’ he noted, describing the gathering as a potential magnet for trouble.
‘It seems like you’re asking [for trouble],’ Rogan said.
Dubbed ‘Freedom Fights 250’ in honor of the 250th anniversary of America’s declaration of independence, the event is headlined by a lightweight title bout between champion Ilia Topuria and interim champ Justin Gaethje.
UFC veteran Colby Covington, 38, has publicly pleaded to be added to the June 14 card
Not everyone is happy with the fight card as it currently stands.
Colby Covington, a 38-year-old MMA fighter who is just 2-4 in his last six bouts, has publicly pleaded to be added to the card.
‘I said I’d fight anybody just to get the opportunity to fight in front of my hero, Donald Trump,’ he told Submission Radio. ‘They’re upsetting their hardcore fan base. ‘”Whatever, we’re just going to throw s*** at the wall and tell everybody it’s filet mignon.” It’s completely the opposite of what they promised the fans.’
Covington also has financial motivation to fight on the White House’s South Lawn.
‘What the f*** am I supposed to do to earn money?’ he asked. ‘I want to pay my bills.’
