Preparations Underway for UFC’s “Freedom 250” at the White House
Ambassador Monica Crowley announced on Wednesday that plans are in motion for the UFC’s “Freedom 250” event, set for June 14 on the South Lawn of the White House. This event will be a noteworthy celebration, aligning with President Trump’s birthday.
Speaking at a Breitbart News event titled “Celebrating America’s Greatness,” Crowley emphasized her role in organizing the semi-quincentennial celebration ahead of America’s 250th anniversary.
When discussing the significance of the UFC event, Crowley remarked, “This event particularly showcases President Trump in a unique way—it’s a UFC match on the South Lawn.”
She added that construction of the Octagon will begin later this month. “The president mentioned creating a theater for 5,000 people around the Octagon, right outside the back door of the White House,” she noted.
Crowley pointed out that the timing is particularly meaningful as it coincides with both Flag Day and the president’s birthday. “On June 14th, these battles will unfold,” she stated. “It’s going to be quite an extraordinary experience. This day marks a big birthday for the president, and while he might not want to emphasize it, we’re definitely going to celebrate with an incredible UFC fight.”
UFC President Dana White revealed that 85,000 free tickets will be available for fans at the Ellipse near the White House. Attendees can enjoy large screens showing the matches, live music, and various events surrounding the “Freedom 250” card. “It’s going to be a unique and exciting experience for fight fans,” White expressed.
The main event will feature Ilya Topuria against Justin Gaethje, with Alex Pereira and Cyril Gane in a co-main event. Additional fights will include Sean O’Malley versus Ayman Zahavi, Mauricio Ruffy against Michael Chandler, Bo Nickal facing Kyle Daukaus, and Diego Lopez squaring off with Steve Garcia. White mentioned that every bout, except the one with Pereira and Gane, includes at least one American fighter.
White also noted that Derrick Lewis was added to the lineup after President Trump inquired about his absence from the event. “I reached out to Lewis right away, and he responded enthusiastically, saying he would love to fight,” White relayed. Lewis will face Josh Hokit at the “Freedom 250.”
