Trump hosts White House cage fights to mark 80th birthday
The US president is set to watch seven fights with an audience of 4,000 people inside a specially built arena on the White House lawn
The US president is set to watch seven fights with an audience of 4,000 people inside a specially built arena on the White House lawn. Critics say the unprecendented spectacle is in poor taste amid the ongoing Iran war. US President Donald Trump will celebrate his 80th birthday on Sunday night with an unprecedented cage-fighting show on the White House's historic South Lawn. Costing more than $60 million (€52 million), the event will see seven mixed martial arts fights take place inside a specially built arena dubbed "The Claw." Trump is set to be joined by some 4,000 spectators to watch stars from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) league try to kick, punch and wrestle their way to victory inside a wire-mesh octagon cage. Thousands more people are expected to watch the fights on a big screen from the nearby Ellipse park.
The event, named "UFC Freedom 250," has been linked to this year's larger festivities to mark the 250th anniversary of US independence. Trump has sought to link his 80th birthday celebrations to larger festivities marking 250 years since the signing of the US Declaration of Independence Image: Joey Sussman/ZUMA/IMAGO What has the response been to Trump's birthday bash? Critics have derided the extravaganza, calling it inappropriate at a time when the war with Iran, now in its fourth month, has pushed up the cost of living for ordinary people. The event comes as Trump seeks an agreement with Tehran to end the war, saying a deal is expected to be signed on Sunday, although Iran has questioned that timing. Opponents also launched a legal challenge to block the fights, arguing that Trump had exceeded his authority by allowing his longtime friend UFC President Dana White to use the White House grounds to promote a private, profit-making sporting event.
However, a judge rejected the bid. The president has said the UFC is covering the costs for the entire event and UFC has said it will not make a profit. Brazil's Alex Pereira is one of the fighters taking part on Sunday night Image: Joey Sussman/ZUMA/IMAGO What to expect on Sunday night The fights are set to begin at 8 p.m. local time (0000 GMT Monday) and run past midnight. The main event features Alex Pereira of Brazil facing Ciryl Gane of France for the interim UFC heavyweight title. Spanish-Georgian lightweight champion Ilia Topuria then takes on former interim titleholder Justin Gaethje. In a dramatic touch, some of the top fighters taking part on Sunday are reportedly set to emerge from the Oval Office itself before walking through the Rose Garden or West Wing colonnade into the arena. There will also be military bands, a US military flyover and parachute display and a 10-minute fireworks finale.
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