UFC Freedom 250
It left me breathless, sort of like that moment when you accidentally let one rip in an elevator and gasp as the doors open. What was intended to be a celebration of America turned out to be a marketplace for a commodified patriotism, reminiscent of a trucker’s hat declaring, “These Colors Don’t Run.”
There were, I think, quite a few discussions about hosting a UFC event on the White House lawn and what that might mean for us. While some insights suggested it could bring us closer, this event, honestly, felt like a massive cringe-fest. Instead of celebrating the spirit of the nation, UFC Freedom 250 showcased a somewhat distorted vision of patriotism, wrapped in an overwhelming number of American flags while neglecting the event’s overall poor execution.
If we’re looking at it objectively, UFC Freedom 250 might have been one of the worst MMA cards ever. The matches were generally lackluster, devoid of the finesse that makes the sport enjoyable. The lone bout that drew some attention was Ilia Topuria against Justin Gaethje, but it was delayed and didn’t wrap up until nearly 1 a.m. ET. The fight ended with Topuria essentially calling it quits during a corner kick, which just goes to show—even the highlight of the night didn’t quite deliver in the end.
Spanning nearly five hours, the event had a total in-ring time of just over 56 minutes, while the rest was a confusing display of overt patriotism. Genuine love for the country felt absent; instead, it showed more like cheap theatrics. The UFC ring girls were dressed up like WWII pin-ups, and Tyson Fury wandered around in a “Donald Trump for Prime Minister” hat, making jabs at the British government. The fighters entered the ring accompanied by Medal of Honor recipients, creating an image of military tribute that felt almost forced.
Especially cringe-worthy was Josh Hokit’s post-fight interview where he said, “Michelle Obama is a man,” a comment the UFC swiftly scrubbed from social media. Dana White has denounced Hokit’s statement, but it felt like a moment that went too far from the intended spirit of the event.
Yet, despite the overwhelming awkwardness, the event did manage to create a few memorable moments—much like spotting a flower growing from cow dung. A standout was definitely the U.S. Marine Corps Band, which delivered a classic performance of the entrance music. Instead of distorted music blaring from shaky speakers, we enjoyed a beautifully sung rendition that, honestly, was probably the highlight of the night.
It’s unfortunate everything seemed to stop there. Fighters made their way into the cages on the White House lawn, stepping over Monster Energy cans as they waited for a UFC announcer to finish a commercial for visiting Riyadh before they touched gloves. Nothing captures the essence of American exceptionalism quite like a mixed martial arts match at the White House, right? And hey, isn’t bike jumping a bit more intriguing?
