The fight is on. A federal judge has rejected an attempt to block Donald Trump’s UFC cage match from taking place after a lawsuit accused the administration of a “deeply corrupt” scheme to line the pockets of his allies.
A hulking superstructure is taking over the White House lawn for Sunday’s fight, coinciding with the president’s 80th birthday and marking the first-ever private sports event held there.
Crews have finished installing a 92-foot-tall “Claw” above the octagon-shaped stage for UFC’s Freedom 250, surrounded by arena-style seating and plastered with brand names and company logos, including Polymarket and Bud Light.
The event — in tandem with a White House-backed celebration of the nation’s 25th anniversary — will hold more than 4,000 people, and a nearby park is expected to hold more than 120,000 visitors for a watch party.
A federal lawsuit threatened to derail the event before it started. The last-minute lawsuit accused the administration of giving the UFC “unfettered access” to turn public landmarks into profitable billboards.
UFC committed $60 million to the event, according to court filings. The event is expected to draw multi-million dollar sponsorships as well as revenue through a broadcast agreement with Paramount +, a streaming platform operated by Trump allies.
White House officials say the UFC is covering costs for the unprecedented production, but several federal agencies have “allocated significant resources and manpower,” officials say.
Read MoreFirst look inside the UFC 250 octagon on the White House lawn ahead of Trump’s 80th birthday fight
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Majority of Americans disapprove of Trump’s UFC birthday cage fight
Trump eclipsing America 250 with his own birthday celebration is exactly what we deserve
Key Points
- Judge rejects attempt to shut down White House cage match
- What's happening at the Lincoln Memorial?
- Look inside the UFC Freedom 250 octagon on the White House lawn
Most Americans disapprove of Trump’s UFC birthday cage fight, poll finds
19:30 , Rachel DobkinWhen asked for their opinion of the White House hosting the fight as part of its Freedom 250 celebrations, 40 percent of Americans said they strongly disapproved, and another 11 percent said they somewhat disapproved, according to a recent YouGov survey.
Majority of Americans disapprove of Trump’s UFC birthday cage fight
Just in time for his 80th birthday, the Trump-Epstein reading room roadshow has arrived in DC
19:00 , Joe SommerladAs Trump prepares for his UFC cage match for his 80th birthday, a new exhibition across town threatens to steal his thunder.
The “Donald J Trump and Jeffrey Epstein Memorial Reading Room” has opened its doors to give visitors the chance to step inside and read the Epstein files for themselves in hard copy.
The Trump-Epstein reading room roadshow has arrived in DC
Trump has become DC’s developer-in-chief
18:20 , Alex WoodwardFrom the demolition of the East Wing of the White House to make way for his ballroom to plans for a 250-foot-tall Triumphal arch on the Potomac River, Trump is racing to leave a massive physical imprint on Washington, D.C. that will endure long after he leaves office.
Brendan Rascius has more on the developer-in-chief:
Trump has become DC’s developer-in-chief
Breaking: Judge rejects attempt to shut down White House cage match
18:15 , Alex WoodwardThe fight is on.
A federal judge has rejected a request for an injunction that would have blocked the Trump administration from holding Sunday’s fight.
The ruling follows a lawsuit from the Public Integrity Project on behalf of two civic activists who accused the administration of a “deeply corrupt” scheme to line the pockets of the president’s allies.
Judge Amit Mehta said the plaintiffs “have not satisfied their burden” of facing “irreparable harm” if the event takes place.
They have fallen short of proving that they will be “directly affected” by the event, which they don’t plan to attend.
“The for-profit elements of UFC Freedom 250 have long been known,” and the absence of congressional approval and environmental review “is not new information,” the judge wrote.
The judge also stressed that the stage and all other materials will be coming down immediately after the fights.
What's happening at the Lincoln Memorial?
18:00 , Alex WoodwardA press conference kicking off the weekend is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET at the Lincoln Memorial.
According to court filings in a lawsuit aiming to block the event from taking place, fighters will enter the Lincoln Memorial — “each accompanied by a child” — and be filmed walking through a lower chamber and down the steps to a press conference area.
A-listers snub UFC fight on heels of Freedom 250 concert fiasco
17:30 , Alex WoodwardSeveral celebrities who were reportedly invited to Donald Trump’s UFC cage fight have no plans to show up.
The high-profile snubs follow the collapse of the Freedom 250 concert series on the National Mall, after all but a handful of artists dropped out.
Trump has threatened to cancel the whole series and is now hosting a kick-off event featuring Lee Greenwood and, of course, himself.
Trump’s White House cage fight snubbed by A-listers on heels of concert fiasco
Analysis: Trump eclipsing America 250 with his own birthday celebration is exactly what we deserve
17:00 , Alex WoodwardHolly Baxter on what America deserves versus what America gets:
Trump’s weird 80th birthday celebration is actually perfect for America
Lawsuit accuses Trump of 'volcano of corruption'
16:15 , Alex WoodwardA federal judge is weighing whether to issue a temporary restraining order that would stop Sunday’s cage match and block the UFC from using the White House and Lincoln Memorial as a backdrop for a for-profit sporting event, the first ever on White House grounds.
Inside the 11th hour legal battle:
Judge could shut down Trump’s ‘volcano of corruption’ UFC fight
Look inside the UFC Freedom 250 octagon on the White House lawn
16:00 , Ariana BaioThe White House South Lawn has officially been turned into a makeshift Ultimate Fighting Championship arena, with a massive, 600-ton steel arch erected above a red, white and blue octagon and a limited number of temporary stadium seating.
First look inside the UFC octagon on the White House lawn ahead of fight
