UFC's Dana White Says Never Again to White House Fight Night Despite Calling It a Success

Before he walked to the cage on the South Lawn, Justin Gaethje stopped in the Oval Office, skimmed the copy of the Declaration of Independence that hangs there, and said a prayer. It was an unusually long walk for a fighter. Hours later he had beaten Spanish-Georgian fighter Ilia Topuria in the main event, won the UFC lightweight title, celebrated with a backflip off the top of the wire-mesh cage, and shaken hands with President Donald Trump. He fist-bumped Melania Trump as well.

The card was called Freedom 250. It was held ostensibly to mark Trump's 80th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. By the end, UFC CEO Dana White had reached a conclusion about his company's future in Washington. "It was an amazing experience, this was a one-of-one," he said. "It will never happen again."

He did not say that because the night disappointed him. At a news conference that ran well into the early hours of Monday, White boasted about merchandise sales and streaming subscriptions, and said UFC had surpassed its goals in every metric he could name. The setting, by his account and the evidence of the evening, was almost impossible to top. The all-male lineup toured the West Wing, the Oval Office, the Roosevelt Room and the Cabinet Room, walking past presidential portraits like kids on a class trip. The winners also got a meet-and-greet with Trump.

Gaethje said the walk was unlike his usual routine. "Usually, I kind of blank out when it comes to getting ready to walk to the cage," he said. Looking at the original Declaration, he added, was "pretty crazy." He said the language was different and that he was not smart enough to read it. He also collected $825,000 in bonus money for winning both "Performance of the Night" and "Fight of the Night."

Trump stayed until the end of the seven-fight card and seemed engaged, at one point putting on a white "USA" baseball cap. He was all smiles each time a winning fighter used a raised hand to shake his. On Truth Social he called the night "PERFECT!" Gaethje and Ciryl Gane were crowned champions in a blood-splattered eight-sided cage set up in the open air on the South Lawn. The evening also included the Marine Band and tributes to first responders, active military and other heroes designated by the White House.

There were few blemishes, and those that did occur involved two of UFC's more problematic fighters. Middleweight champion Sean Strickland was escorted by police out of the Ellipse watch party, which thousands of fans attended. Heavyweight Josh Hokit made an extraordinary and unfounded attack on former first lady Michelle Obama, based on a right-wing conspiracy theory.

White, in his promoter's mode, said he hoped the night had created some unity. He insisted it was not a political statement, but Americans celebrating a birthday. He added that he hoped first-time viewers who tuned in because of the White House setting liked the sport and the fighters' stories.

Still, he stands by one-and-done. The weather worries of a rare outdoor show, the logistics of building a cage and staging an event at federal landmarks, and the cost all weighed on him. UFC said it paid the $60 million bill. "I can't afford it," White said. "I'll never do the Sphere again and we'll never do this again."

The test of any new audience comes soon. International Fight Week is near, and UFC 329 will mark the return of Conor McGregor, the company's biggest draw, after a five-year break. It will be held in a traditional arena in Las Vegas, where UFC plans to stay for years.