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Thunderstorms threaten Trump's UFC cage fight on the White House lawn
TL;DR
Thunderstorms and high humidity threaten the UFC event at the White House on Sunday, with 4,300 attendees expected. The National Weather Service warns of damaging thunderstorms and a 70% chance of rain during the event.
Key points
- First-ever professional sporting event at the White House
- 4,300 attendees expected at the UFC event
- 70% chance of rain forecasted during the event
- Damaging thunderstorms may affect the event
- 85,000 expected at a nearby fan zone
When the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heads to the White House on Sunday for the first-ever professional sporting event at the US presidential residence, many of those in attendance will be keeping their eyes on the sky.
About 4,300 people are expected at the invite-only mixed martial arts event on the South Lawn, with another 85,000 expected at a nearby fan zone.
A lawsuit failed to halt the event, buthot weather and thunderstorms expected to sweep across the city on Sunday could dampen the spectacle, or send some of those thousands rushing for cover.
The action is set to start at 20:00 EDT (midnight GMT, 01:00 BST), during a window when the National Weather Service expects the air to thicken with humidity exceeding 70% and the temperature to hover around 80F (27C).
The agency has warned "damaging thunderstorms" may shake the region in the evening, and it forecasts a 70% chance of rain that could drop as much as half an inch of water on Washington.
The event coincides with President Donald Trump's 80th birthday, which is also Flag Day, and is part of celebrations for America's 250th anniversary.
The seven-bout card was arranged between Trump and his longstanding friend Dana White, UFC president.
The UFC spent about $60m (£45m) on the event, including $700,000 for grass repairs afterwards on a lawn that hosts the annual Easter Egg Roll.
The centrepiece is the "Claw" - a 92ft high metal structure that looms over the octagon and many of the seats. It weighs 600 tonnes.
A total of 14 fighters will compete in back-to-back fights, ending with the main card between Georgian-Spanish lightweight Ilia Topuria and American Justin Gaethje.
It will be screened exclusively on Paramount+, which is run by Trump ally David Ellison. Last year, UFC signed a $7.7bn deal with the Netflix rival streaming service.
The ultimate winner may be UFC - making it to the White House is a fist-pumping brand boost for a sport that was once shunned by sponsors and venues and denounced as "human cockfighting" by a US senator.
Administration officials - including Trump - have repeatedly praised the event, with the president referring to it as "the greatest show on Earth" and comparing the Claw to the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week lauded the UFC as the "definition of American soft diplomatic power" and announced the launch of a private-public partnership to use the UFC as a diplomatic tool.
Just days before the fight, a lawsuit was filed on behalf of two Virginia residents - a Vietnam veteran and a local civic activist - to try halt the event.
The legal action, filed by the Public Integrity Project, a self-described anti-corruption law firm in Washington, argued the event was "deeply corrupt".
It cited a lack of approvals for the weigh-in at the nearby Lincoln Memorial and President Trump's close personal and financial ties with Dana White and the UFC.
Q&A
What time does the UFC event at the White House start?
The UFC event is set to start at 20:00 EDT.
How many people are expected to attend the UFC event at the White House?
About 4,300 people are expected to attend the invite-only UFC event.
What is the weather forecast for the UFC event at the White House?
The weather forecast predicts damaging thunderstorms with a 70% chance of rain and high humidity.
Is there a fan zone for the UFC event at the White House?
Yes, another 85,000 people are expected at a nearby fan zone for the event.
