President Donald Trump is a big fan of UFC fights. In May he presented the first drafts of the planned stage in the Oval Office of the White House.Image: keystone
On Sunday, mixed martial arts fights will take place in front of the White House in Washington, in a specially built arena. This spectacle is even more important to the US President than the start of the World Cup.
June 14, 2026, 05:24June 14, 2026, 05:24
Renzo Ruf, Washington
The weather forecast for Sunday doesn’t look good. In Washington, meteorologists say the hot summer weather could lead to storms in the afternoon and evening before. “There is a potential for severe thunderstorms,” warn local weathermen. This is a problem because tens of thousands of people are expected in the American capital on Sunday for an open-air festival in the center of the Capitol.
The official occasion: For the first time, a professional sporting event will take place on Sunday evening on the grounds of the White House. The mixed martial arts promoter UFC is holding seven exhibition fights in a specially built arena – including the eagerly awaited brawl between the Georgian Ilia Topuria (“El Matador”) and the American Justin Gaethje (“The Highlight”).
The UFC arena on the White House grounds.Image: keystone
Democrat calls the event “a sacrilege”
UFC boss Dana White, a close friend of President Donald Trump, promises nothing less than “the most important sporting event of all time.” Cost: More than $60 million, with UFC reportedly covering most of the expenses. (If you want to follow the fights at home, you will need to access a streaming service. In the USA this is Paramount+, in Switzerland DAZN.)
The spectacle in front of the historic facade of the most famous building in the USA celebrates the country’s 250th birthday. At least that’s what UFC says. However, a look at the calendar shows that this anniversary is only on July 4th. On the other hand, the current resident of the White House is celebrating his 80th birthday on Sunday.
Of course, this oversized party is a real hit for Trump’s political opponent. “What a sacrilege,” complained this week Democratic MP Don Beyer, former US ambassador to Switzerland.
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But Trump remains unmoved. First, the Republican is a declared fan of UFC fights. The last time Trump sat in Miami two months ago was right next to the octagonal fighting cage and watched the mixed martial arts athletes beat each other bloody.
And secondly, Trump loves occasions where he is the center of attention. That’s probably why he skipped the opening of the World Cup in Los Angeles on Friday. Instead, Trump will now follow all the fighting on Sunday (starting at 2 a.m. Swiss time on Monday night) – although he has to make his way to Geneva on Monday night because he wants to take part in the G7 meeting in Evian.
In contrast to the World Cup or the basketball finals in New York, no celebrities will appear at the White House. UFC boss White invited some stars to take part in the spectacle. But well-known names like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Jared Leto and Adam Sandler turned him down, as Vanity Fair magazine reported.
And Trump’s four living predecessors will also avoid the White House on Sunday – although two of these ex-presidents will soon be celebrating their 80th birthday. Neither the Democrat Bill Clinton (President from 1993 to 2001) nor the Republican George W. Bush (2001 to 2009) have any interest in siding with Trump. (schweiztoday.ch)