From Dispatch Room
The White House has begun construction of a UFC fighting cage on its South Lawn ahead of a major event marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Workers were seen assembling domed arches, staging structures and seating areas for the event, which is scheduled to take place on June 14.
The event, tagged UFC Freedom 250, is expected to feature an octagon-shaped fighting arena surrounded by a wire-mesh fence and temporary seating.
U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier described the project as the “biggest event” the UFC has ever staged, saying the arena would be built outside the front door of the White House.
The UFC is expected to spend about $60 million on the event.
According to organisers, about 4,300 people will watch the fights from the South Lawn, with most attendees expected to be members of the military.
Another 85,000 free tickets are expected to be made available to members of the public to watch from nearby Ellipse Park.
The event will feature two championship fights, including Brazil’s Alex Pereira against France’s Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC heavyweight title.
Georgian fighter Ilia Topuria is also expected to face Justin Gaethje in a lightweight bout.
UFC president Dana White said tickets would not be sold to the general public, though special VIP packages are expected to be available for selected guests.
Reports suggest some high-end access packages could cost as much as $1.5 million.
The UFC’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, said the promotion does not expect to profit from the event and described it as a long-term investment.
The event will mark the first professional live sporting event to be held on White House grounds.
The construction also comes amid several changes to the White House under the Trump administration, including renovations to parts of the residence and surrounding grounds.
— Newspot Nigeria
