Dana White says it's an 'honor' to build a fight arena on the White House lawn

Credit: NPR

It's been hard to imagine the scene planned for the Trump White House on June 14: Mixed martial arts fighters in a cage match on the South Lawn.

Though it's easier to visualize this week, as the Ultimate Fighting Championship has begun setting up bleachers and a giant arch for the planned event. The work is visible to tourists and TV cameras. The UFC also released a rendering of the event, showing several thousand spectators surrounding a fenced-in octagon, the UFC's trademark, where a series of men will face off.

History in the making 👀

New visuals for #UFCWhiteHouse and the UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest are here!

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— UFC (@ufc) May 23, 2026

In an interview for the NPR video podcast Newsmakers, Dana White, President Trump's friend and the head of the UFC, voiced some doubt about what he's being asked to do.

"There's two things I hate. I hate stadiums, and even worse than a stadium is fighting outside," White said. "There's just so many variables… rain and lightning… bugs."

White nonetheless took on the task of building a temporary outdoor stadium.

"We're celebrating America's 250th birthday on the lawn of the White House. And, you know, there possibly couldn't be a greater honor than that, especially for me as an American," he said.

The unprecedented event is sure to draw polarizing opinions, which is true of the UFC itself.