UFC Fights at the White House Celebrate America's 250th

The Ultimate Fighting Championship celebrated America's 250th birthday with a full fight card on the White House South Lawn on Sunday. The event featured military flyovers, the Marine Band playing walkout music, and a lightweight title win by Justin Gaethje, drawing both cheers from fight fans and familiar complaints from critics who thought the sport had no place at the presidential residence.

How did the UFC end up on the White House South Lawn?

The UFC built a makeshift stadium in the backyard of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to mark the nation's semiquincentennial. The event included a 92-foot-tall structure, the 160-piece Marine Band, and active military members making up about 1,000 of the attendees. Weather delays pushed the card's conclusion close to 1 a.m. on Monday.

UFC CEO Dana White emphasized that the event was intended as a patriotic celebration, not a political statement.