Trending Now - Trump Curates Guest List for Controversial White House UFC Event
WHO:
Alternet - President Donald Trump is handpicking attendees for the UFC event.
Alternet - UFC President Dana White is promoting the event.
NBC News - The event is attracting MMA fans and supporters of Trump's Make America Great Again movement.
WHAT:
MMA Fighting - The main event will feature Ilia Topuria, the UFC lightweight champion, facing interim titleholder Justin Gaethje in a unification bout.
MMA Fighting - The co-main event will have Alex Pereira facing Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight championship as part of a seven-fight lineup.
MMA Fighting - The UFC revealed new Venum fight kits for the card celebrating the 250th birthday of the United States.
Alternet - The event is the first ever UFC fight to be held on the South Lawn of the White House.
Alternet - The event is set to take place on June 14, in commemoration of Trump's 80th birthday.
Alternet - There will be over 4,000 spectators at the event.
NBC News - The public will be able to watch a broadcast of the fight on the Ellipse.
WHERE:
Alternet - The event will be held on the South Lawn of the White House.
WHEN:
Alternet - The UFC event is scheduled for June 14.
WHY:
Alternet - The event is part of a monthslong celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Alternet - The event is seen as a way for big donors to funnel money to Trump and gain favor.
HOW:
NBC News - A Trump adviser stated, "The process has been absolute chaos... It’s hard to overstate how many requests have come in, but there is no doubt the people President Trump wants there will be there, and those he does not will not be."
Alternet - President Trump is directly controlling the ticket distribution process, leading to "absolute chaos" behind the scenes.
Alternet - Tickets are being split among military members, VIPs, friends of Trump, members of Congress, and foreign dignitaries.
Alternet - The Trump fundraising team is raising money for the event, which is being used as a vehicle for corporate donors to gain favor with Trump.
(UPDATED May 11, 2026 21:22 UTC)
In an exciting announcement from MMA Fighting, the main event will see UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria face interim titleholder Justin Gaethje in a unification bout, while the co-main event features Alex Pereira going up against Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight championship as part of a seven-fight lineup. Additionally, the UFC has unveiled new Venum fight kits for the card, which will celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States. Meanwhile, a Trump adviser described the current situation as "absolute chaos," emphasizing that while many requests have come in, the people President Trump wants present will indeed be there, and those he does not want will not.
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(UPDATED May 11, 2026 17:40 UTC)
President Trump is handpicking attendees for a historic UFC event, the first ever to be held on the South Lawn of the White House, which is set for June 14 in celebration of his 80th birthday and the nation’s 250th anniversary. Over 4,000 spectators are expected, with the public able to watch the fight broadcast on the Ellipse, as UFC President Dana White promotes the event that is attracting both MMA fans and supporters of Trump's Make America Great Again movement. Behind the scenes, ticket distribution is reportedly chaotic, with tickets allocated to military members, VIPs, friends of Trump, members of Congress, and foreign dignitaries, while the Trump fundraising team works to raise money for the event, allowing corporate donors to gain favor with him.