With the UFC cage match at the White House less than three weeks away, construction for the ambitious mixed martial arts event officially started Monday.
Workers began assembling what appeared to be a lighting structure for the temporary “claw” stage under construction in Lititz, Pennsylvania. Numerous social media posts in Washington, D.C., highlighted photos of the project throughout the day.
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The claw arena will eventually be set up on the White House South Lawn. The event is set to take place June 14, which is not only Flag Day but also President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.
For his birthday last year, Trump hosted a military parade to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. And with the UFC fight this year, he is not backing down on extravagance.
The event is set to host 5,000 attendees around the arena. Seats are reserved for military members and guests invited by the UFC and the White House. Though tickets will not be for sale, up to 100,000 people can watch on large screens at the nearby Ellipse.
The fight is part of America 250 celebrations this summer, leading up to the semiquincentennial on July 4 and, as such, will have increased security on par with the Super Bowl.
Several UFC stars are participating in the historic event, including Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje in the lightweight title bout and Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight interim title.
New renderings of the event were released over the weekend. The White House will serve as the backdrop for the arena.
TRUMP GIVES FIRST LOOK AT UFC 250 ARENA PLANNED FOR WHITE HOUSE LAWN
UFC President and CEO Dana White, a close friend of Trump, was instrumental in organizing the event. White described it as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will never happen again.”
