UFC Freedom 250 Viewership Record as Documentary Debuts

A historic UFC event held on the White House South Lawn last month shattered viewership records, new figures reveal, while a documentary premiering today shows President Donald Trump’s hands-on role in pushing for a larger venue. The UFC Freedom 250 event, held on June 14 as part of America’s 250th-anniversary celebrations, ultimately drew a global audience of 34 million viewers, making it the most-watched event in the promotion’s history.

New behind-the-scenes footage from the Fox Nation documentary "UFC Fight House: The Making of the Biggest Fight in History," which premieres today, details the extensive planning. Clips show President Trump in meetings with UFC CEO Dana White and Chief Content Officer Craig Borsari, expressing dissatisfaction with initial seating plans. When Borsari explained that the current infrastructure on the South Lawn could only accommodate about 2,500 people due to trees and landscaping, Trump called the number "terrible" and pressed for a capacity closer to 7,000.

Trump stated his concept was to build an arena as large as possible right at the front door of the White House, acknowledging the constraints of the historic grounds. White confirmed the...