White House to host UFC cage match on the South Lawn

State of play: UFC chief executive Dana White, a Trump pal, visited the president at the White House last week to discuss the plans, and Ivanka Trump — a Brazilian jujitsu practitioner — is helping out, the Journal reports.

• The wild vision: Between the White House and Monument, thousands will watch combatants inside an octagon cage kick, grab, and wrestle one another — with lasers and fireworks overhead.
• The ticketed event is expected to be held in June 2026, with fan experiences planned for the days leading up to the fight. (Original plans to pull it off on July 4 fizzled with so much on tap for America's 250th birthday celebration.)

Zoom in: The White House Ellipse park could have a jumbo screen for public spectating, per the Journal.

• The Lincoln Memorial steps could be home to fighter weigh-ins and a press conference, although planning could change, the Journal reports.

What they're saying: "This will be one of the greatest and most historic sports events in history," Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung tells the Journal.

Context: Past presidents have used the White House grounds for less ambitious sporting events, like tennis matches (Warren G. Harding), T-ball (George W. Bush), and pickup basketball (Barack Obama).

The bottom line: Trump is the UFC president. He courted its fans during the election and has walked out with White into packed arenas, oftentimes with an entourage of Cabinet members and allies.