White Releases UFC White House Event Renderings

Information on the UFC White House event, which will take place next summer to commemorate America's 250th birthday, is beginning to surface.

Stadium with 5,000 seats

In July, UFC President and CEO Dana White was asked to put together an elite card for a live event that would take place on the White House grounds. U.S. President Donald Trump is a huge fan of the UFC and has attended several live events.

Last night, White appeared on Fox News to present updated renderings of the event. These had the Octagon on the lawn, the White House in the background, and fewer than 5,000 seats.

“My vision for this thing is we have this big arch, with the lighting grid, because what I want is the White House on the back, and when the fight goes around to the other side, you’ll see the Washington Monument,” said White.

Main Card: McGregor vs. Chandler?

Additionally, there will be a viewing party in a park with several TV screens, space for 85,000 people, a stage, and music. Guests are welcome to bring blankets, relax on the grass, and watch the fights.

“It’s going to take over Washington, DC,” White said. “It is an incredible opportunity, not only for the fans, for the sport, and for the fighters.”

According to White, Trump wants to increase the number of people who visit the White House, which includes the UFC event.

Weigh-In  Conor McGregor and Jon Jones, two UFC fighters who had recently retired from the sport when Trump made his declaration last July, have expressed their desire to compete at the Lincoln Memorial.

McGregor could be a possibility, but you never know with the Irishman these days if it's a branding strategy to keep his name in the news to sell whisky or to help him run for office in his home country of Ireland.

This is what he told Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade this week: “I am on it. Michael Chandler and myself have done the show Ultimate Fighter. We have a good back and forth. He’s a good, tough guy. The Mac is excited to come back for sure.”

White: McGregor Is “Motivated”

Chandler went on Fox host Laura Ingraham’s show later yesterday and said this: “This will be an experience we will never see again, fighting at the White House. It’s going to be absolutely spectacular on America’s birthday no less. One thing is for sure – expect the unexpected. When you got Dana White and Donald Trump, they have promotional brains behind it, then expect the unexpected. Nothing is impossible for these gentlemen.

“Conor and I have history. I am the opponent he wants. He is the opponent I want. That would be a heck of a main event for UFC White House. You’ll have all the build-up to the fight, you’re talking about 250 years of this great nation of ours, America’s birthday, July at the White House. This has all of the ingredients needed to be the biggest fight in UFC history.”

Event Postponed until June

Reports state that due to logistical difficulties, the event, which was initially planned for July 4, had to be rescheduled for June. 

The Lincoln Memorial will be the site of weigh-ins.

White claimed to have spoken with McGregor on a daily basis and did not appear to rule out the prospect of a confrontation between the two at the event.

“We’ll build the greatest card of all time for the White House fight,” he said. “And Conor and I have been talking consistently. He wants this fight bad. And when you get to a level that Connor is, you gotta find things in life that motivate you. In the White House card has definitely motivated Conor McGregor.”

Since injuring his leg during a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021, McGregor has not competed in the UFC Octagon.  He had to withdraw weeks prior to his scheduled rematch with Chandler at UFC 303 in June 2024 because to a toe injury.  In his last four UFC bouts, McGregor has suffered three defeats.