Overview
- Variety reports President Trump approved plans for a South Lawn UFC telecast that is expected to be among the first events under Paramount’s reported $7.7 billion rights deal.
- The discussed date is June 14, 2026, which is Trump’s 80th birthday, but outlets note the timing is not finalized and could shift, with formal planning expected to ramp up in early 2026.
- Attendance will be invitation-only with a limited live crowd, with Dana White indicating fewer than 5,000 people on site due to security and logistical constraints.
- A White House spokesperson described the production as a celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary and called it “a spectacular event,” with dinner guests moving to watch the fights cageside.
- Fighter lobbying has intensified, with Conor McGregor, Kayla Harrison and Mike Perry expressing interest, Dana White signaling reservations about Jon Jones, and Eric Trump publicly backing Jones for a spot on the card.