WASHINGTON — The national anthem was a new touch for an Ultimate Fighting Championship card.
So was a group of fans deciding to serenade the president with a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday” during the first bout of the night just steps from his residence.
There was even an in-cage proposal.
UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House was not the typical event produced by the Las Vegas-based Ultimate Fighting Championship, even beyond the mixed martial arts organization’s first rain delay.
Once the bell rang on each of the seven fights, however, it was business as usual inside the cage as all ended in knockout.
Yet the occasion was anything but normal, particularly when there was no action going on in the cage built just steps from the president’s residence.
Despite concerns over the weather with the region expecting wind and thunderstorms, it turned out to be a mild and peaceful evening apart from occasional gusts of wind.
The fight card got underway less than an hour late and was able to proceed without interruption.
It opened with President Donald Trump emerging from the White House and walking side-by-side down the South Portico steps with UFC president and CEO Dana White.
They watched the Zac Brown Band perform “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which typically does not get played before UFC events, before looking up for a 12-jet flyover above the nearly 100-foot canopy over the temporary 4,300-seat venue filled with politicians, athletes, foreign dignitaries and service members from each of the branches of the United States military.
While the card was dubbed as part of a summerlong celebration of the 250th anniversary of the country, it also happened to fall on Trump’s 80th birthday.
He was greeted with several well-wishes on his way into the venue before some in the crowd sang to him between the first and second fight of the night. Trump looked on from his cageside seat with several members of his family, including wife Melania and son Barron.
Throughout the evening, a who’s who of politicians, celebrities and powerful business people would take turns approaching and shaking hands between fights.
Several fighters acknowledged Trump after recording victories.
“It feels amazing,” middleweight Bo Nickal said after knocking out Kyle Daukaus in the first round of a middleweight bout. “First and foremost, I have to thank President Trump for making this happen.”
Several of the fighters’ entrance walks, which began inside the White House, included songs that were performed by “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band as opposed to the radio versions usually pumped into an arena.
Lightweight Mauricio Ruffy may be hiring a different band following a spinning wheel kick with punches to knock out veteran Michael Chandler in the first round.
“I want to say something,” Ruffy said through a translator. “A while ago when I met my wife, Nadine, I really wanted to ask her to marry me but I didn’t have the money. But now, what better place to ask my wife to get married?
“Nadine. I love you. Would you marry me since we’re right here at the White House?”
He got a thumbs-up.
The card also drew fairly positive reviews, though there was plenty of dissent on social media about the symbolism of such an event, especially one that had a few political moments.
Ciryl Gane took the interim heavyweight belt by knocking out former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira in the co-main event. Justin Gaethje took the lightweight title from Ilia Topuria with a fourth-round stoppage in the other main event.
Bantamweight Sean O’Malley, heavyweight Josh Hokit and featherweight Diego Lopes also picked up stoppage victories.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.
