'All the best fighters': Trump unveils images of planned White House UFC cage

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump unveiled renderings of a transformed South Lawn of the White House that will host a UFC event in June, hailing the unprecedented spectacle as the "biggest event we've ever had at the White House."

Trump, speaking May 6 alongside four UFC fighters who will compete at the June 14 event, held a rendering that shows an octagon-shaped cage surrounded by thousands of spectators, with the White House shadowing over the makeshift arena. He showed other images capturing the cage from other angles, including from above.

"It's never going to happen again. It's never happened before. And it's all of the best fighters," Trump told reporters from the Oval Office. "And it's going to happen right in front of the White House."

Trump has said an approximately 5,000-seat arena will hold the fighting cage, with an additional 75,000-100,000 spectators standing further away at the White House Ellipse, where they can watch on screens for free. Construction on the temporary structure is expected to begin shortly. Trump said he met with UFC CEO Dana White, a close Trump ally, on May 5 to discuss the planning.

Trump was joined in the White House by UFC fighters Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria, who are facing off in the headliner fight, as well as Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane, who will compete in one of the other seven fights.

"These are real warriors," Trump said, referring to the four UFC fighters. "When we talk about warriors, these are warriors.

"These are the toughest people. These are the greatest fighters in the world," the president continued. "They come from all over the world. Some come from extreme poverty. Not too many people come from Fifth Avenue, for the most part."

The UFC fight, which falls on Trump's 80th birthday and Flag Day, is part of the administration's year of celebrations to mark the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding.

The centerpiece of the arena has been on display in Lititz, Pennsylvania, where a mockup of a soaring 90-foot tall, open-air structure was assembled ahead of the White House event.

Trump, an avid sports fan, often held boxing matches at his casinos during his real estate days in the 1980s and 1990s and sat ringside as the likes of Mike Tyson won their fights. In recent years, he's frequently attended UFC fights, including on April 11 in Miami.

"It's truly an honor and a privilege," Gaethje told Trump, applauding the president for supporting UFC before the sport became mainstream. "It's awesome it's your birthday. It's awesome it's Flag Day. It's wonderful to represent this country."

Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.