Dana White has revealed that a recent visit to the Rose Garden exposed an issue that could threaten the UFC event at the White House.
It comes amid preparations for one of the biggest nights in the MMA promotion’s history when Donald Trump hosts a showpiece to celebrate America250 and his 80th birthday next month.
Yet the event, to be held on the lawn of Trump’s presidential residence, may already be facing obstacles.
White revealed that the spectacular will face a challenge unique to outdoor events on the East Coast: gnats.
The UFC chief shared that a recent dinner with Trump in the Rose Garden was bombarded by the insects, which were reportedly impossible to ignore.
‘Another problem that I always think about, especially on the East Coast, bugs,’ White admitted, while speaking with Boardroom.
Dana White has revealed that gnats could threaten Trump’s UFC event at the White House
‘President Trump just opened the Rose Garden two nights ago and he invited me to dinner there. The amount of gnats that were flying around … I’m like, “Holy s***” As soon as I got on the plane, I called my head of production and said, “Yeah, let me tell you about the gnat situation tonight.”‘
White, who has been a longtime supporter of Trump, admitted that the experience raised concerns over how the event would be impacted, especially in terms of lighting, camera shots and the overall broadcast presentation.
‘So when you’re a fighter, think about that lighting grid, the amount of power in the lights… moths, gnats, and God knows what else,’ he added.
White proposed installing air fans in the event structure to deter the gnats from the venue as he and his production team continue to search for a solution.
‘These are all the little details that we have to think about,’ he continued. ‘That’s why I don’t like fighting outside. Ever.’
Earlier this month, Trump gave fans a first glimpse of what the venue will look like on the lawn of his presidential residence.
After being joined by UFC fighters Alex Pereira, Ilia Topuria, Justin Gaethje and Ciryl Gane in the Oval Office, the Commander-in-Chief showed off some incredible renderings of the proposed layout, which captures an Octagon in the colors of the American flag sitting right in front of the White House while surrounded by hundreds of spectators.
The UFC Freedom 250 card will be held outside on the lawn of the White House next month
Trump unveiled breathtaking renderings of the UFC’s White House event earlier this month
Trump also claimed that the entire country is invited to the ‘free’ event, with an estimated 100,000 people expected to watch on a big screen at The Ellipse – the 52-acre park south of the White House fence – and 5,000 poised to be seated on the lawn.
‘I think it’s gonna be the biggest event we’ve ever had at the White House,’ Trump said.
‘The White House doesn’t really do athletic events for the most part, and these are all the greatest champions in the world. They’re the greatest fighters in the world, you can tell by looking at them.’
Topuria and Gaethje are set to go head-to-head in the main event of the evening, with Pereira and Gane also battling it out earlier in the card.
