MMA honcho Dana White has lifted the lid on plans to take over Washington DC for the UFC’s historic fight week in the US capital.
Donald Trump is plowing ahead with plans for a high profile fight night to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with the White House set to serve as its stage.
The president has long teased that fans will see blows be exchanged on the famous South Lawn but UFC CEO White, a close ally of Trump, has now revealed that another iconic piece of American history will also be incorporated.
‘The fight will happen on the South Lawn of the White House,’ the UFC chief confirmed during a guest appearance on Shannon Sharpe and Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson’s Nightcap podcast.
‘Do you know what is probably the most bada** thing about that?’ he continued. ‘The fighters will actually walk from the Oval Office into the Octagon.’
White met with Trump at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue at the end of August to cement the details for the unique fight night, including the exclusive capacity for the event.
Dana White shared more details on his and Donald Trump’s plans for a UFC White House event
The historic fight night is set to take place on the White House’s famous South Lawn
‘Under 5,000 people will be on the South Lawn of the White House,’ White revealed to the two former NFL players.
‘Then, right next to the White House is a massive park and we’ll have 85,000 people there watching on screens. We’re going to have a stage and do concerts. We’re basically going to take over Washington DC for a week. We’re going to take over the whole city.’
Trump’s daughter Ivanka also joined by phone for an hour meeting with the president and White to discuss details, people familiar with the event told the Wall Street Journal.
Ivanka, who practices Brazilian jujitsu and is a fellow fan of UFC, will be involved in the planning.
The event will reportedly take place some time in June 2026 with the UFC intending to have a large presence in DC throughout the week leading up to the main fight night event.
Multiple days of festivities on the National Mall are reportedly set to include autograph sessions with UFC stars and punching bag setups for visitors to test their fighting acumen.
While details are still being worked out and can be changed before June rolls around, current plans would have weigh-ins and pre-fight press conferences take place at the Lincoln Memorial, which is currently undergoing renovations for a new museum and visitor’s center.
White revealed that the fighters will make their way to the octagon from Trump’s Oval Office
The president’s daughter Ivanka Trump, is reportedly helping to organize the fight
Trump and White have enjoyed a close friendship for well over 20 years after the real estate mogul hosted two UFC events at his now-defunct Atlantic City casino in the early 2000s.
Over the past two decades White has repaid the American tycoon by remaining loyal to him throughout his various political campaigns, even speaking at several Republican National Conventions to endorse him as US president.
Trump also invited White to the onstage victory party following his election triumph last November.
White was welcomed to say a few words at the podium on the stage, and after some glowing praise for Trump, launched into what seemed to be a victory speech of his own.
