Donald Trump's plan to host a UFC event on the White House lawn for America's birthday is drawing sharp criticism, with many calling the idea tacky and lacking historical significance. Despite promoters hyping it as "the most historic sporting event in history," the fight card itself is not particularly groundbreaking by standard industry measures.
The event's grandeur is further questioned by remarks from Senator Marco Rubio, who drew parallels between the UFC's founding and the moon landing. However, the UFC's origins are more complex, involving Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Japanese MMA promotions, with no evidence that Dana White introduced crucial elements like rules and weight classes as Rubio suggested.
Adding to the controversy, the UFC's ties to figures like Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov have been highlighted, raising questions about the administration's "sports diplomacy" initiative. Meanwhile, White's other ventures, like the Power Slap show, have also faced scrutiny.
Promoters are predicting "Super Bowl type numbers" for viewership, a claim that seems inflated given past viewership figures for major MMA events. The event's setup on the White House lawn has been described as if "the contents of a Meta-branded warehouse from Las Vegas" were dumped there.
The fight card itself features solid matchups, including a lightweight title bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje. However, the absence of top-tier fighters like Jon Jones and Conor McGregor is notable. Jones claims he was lowballed by the UFC, while McGregor's exclusion is attributed to anti-doping regulations and Trump's desire to avoid favoritism.
Tickets for the event are free, with Trump, White, and Ari Emanuel controlling a significant portion, while the rest of the audience will largely consist of active servicemembers. A forecast for thunderstorms adds another layer of potential disruption to what is being billed as a historic occasion.
