WASHINGTON – One by one, the burly mixed martial arts fighters made their entrance past the solemn, hulking marble statue of America’s 16th president and jogged down the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to roars from thousands of fans drawn to an unusual sporting weekend. This event not only marks the nation’s 250th anniversary but also coincides with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.
The news conference held on Friday night featured fighters preparing for their main event on Sunday in the Octagon constructed outside the White House. This spectacle attracted UFC fans who braved adverse weather conditions, including lightning, humidity, and bugs, to partake in the excitement.
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Tracy Philbeck and his son Levi traveled from Charlotte, North Carolina, accompanied by a group of friends to cheer for their favorite fighter, American Justin Gaethje, who is set to face Georgian Ilia Topuria in a lightweight title bout. “You will hear an eagle screaming when Justin Gaethje wins,” the elder Philbeck joked.
David Halstead made the journey from Albany, Western Australia, to witness the sport he has adored for a decade. He noted that Trump, a regular attendee at UFC events, “put UFC on the map,” showcasing the strong ties between the sport and the political figure.
The UFC reportedly invested $60 million into the weekend’s festivities, which Trump has touted as “the greatest show on earth.” However, not everyone shares this enthusiasm.
The Public Integrity Project criticized the event as a “private, commercial, corrupt use of our most sacred national monuments for private gain,” filing a lawsuit aiming to prevent it from occurring on federal land. Nevertheless, a federal judge ruled on Friday that the event could proceed.
Polling data from Ipsos Sports indicates that only about 10% of U.S. adults identify as mixed martial arts fans. This demographic tends to skew male and nonwhite, with a higher likelihood of identifying as Republicans than Democrats. “One misconception is that everyone who watches UFC is a Trump supporter, but that’s not the case,” commented 24-year-old Ricardo Rodriguez. He appreciates the physicality of the sport, adding that viewers often expect a knockout every time.
Ellie Louizes, who practices Muay Thai and jujitsu, traveled from Daytona Beach, Florida, with her boyfriend, Jacob Purvis. Although female fans are a minority in MMA, Louizes noted that many women are introduced to the sport through their male partners. She also pointed out that “female fighters are often way more aggressive” than their male counterparts.
Fans gathered at the Lincoln Memorial dismissed concerns regarding the event’s location at the White House. Tracy Philbeck remarked that holding fights at the “People’s House” harks back to the days of Teddy Roosevelt, who famously held sparring sessions there, although they were not formal public prizefights. Roosevelt was known as an enthusiastic amateur boxer, having boxed at Harvard and continued the sport throughout his life.
Boxing fans are also a significant part of the UFC’s audience. In a community event sponsored by UFC at the District of Columbia’s Midtown Youth Academy, local teens had the opportunity to spar with UFC fighter Randy Brown, much to the delight of the gym’s executive director, Gloria Lee. “It’s just been a thrilling week, and I was about to fall out when he came in the door!” she exclaimed, illustrating the excitement surrounding the event.
When asked about her personal UFC fandom, Lee admitted she hadn’t watched much of it. However, after Brown’s visit, she found herself eager to get into the ring and throw some punches alongside the professional fighter.
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Associated Press writer Linley Sanders contributed to this report.
