UFC to stage White House fight card for US 250th birthday

President Donald Trump has announced that Dana White will oversee a UFC event on the White House grounds to mark America’s 250th birthday on July 4, 2026, and fighters across the promotion are already jockeying for spots on what promoters and commentators say could be one of the sport’s most unusual and high-profile cards. Among those pushing for inclusion is former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington, who this week renewed a public plea to UFC leadership and named potential opponents if he gets the chance to fight on the presidential lawn.

Trump’s announcement and subsequent confirmation that the UFC is planning logistics have prompted widespread speculation about how the event will be staged. According to media accounts, organizers are studying a multi-day fan festival on the National Mall, weigh-ins on the Lincoln Memorial steps, and a main card on the South Lawn with fighters potentially able to warm up inside the White House. Reports have also floated crowd estimates in the tens of thousands and plans for a laser and fireworks display, though UFC and White House officials have provided few formal details.

Covington, who visited the White House in 2018 after...