The White House will host a UFC bout next year as part of events to mark 250 years of American independence, US President Donald Trump has announced. The event will be a "championship fight" with an audience of 20,000-25,000, Trump told a crowd in Iowa on Thursday.

Speaking in Iowa on Thursday, Trump floated the idea of hosting a UFC fight on the grounds of the White House as part of the government's festivities around the United States' 250th birthday on July 4, 2026. His pitch, which included praise for his friend, UFC CEO Dana White: