Dana White has made one thing crystal clear: the crowd gathering at the White House for the upcoming UFC event won't be your typical MMA audience. Instead of a sea of fight fans, the UFC CEO is ensuring that the majority of tickets go to those who have served our country.
Speaking on FOX News Channel's My View with Lara Trump, White revealed the unique approach to ticket distribution for the event hosted at President Donald Trump's residence. "Well, your father-in-law, he wants this to be mostly for the military," White explained. "So there's going to be 4,300 people there. I just literally went over it right now, 4,300 people, and most of them will be military."
But if you're a die-hard UFC fan hoping to catch the action live, don't worry—there's still a way in. The Ellipse, a massive park just across the street from the White House, will serve as a public viewing area. With capacity for up to 85,000 fans, this outdoor venue will feature giant screens, stages, music, and interactive activations. Best of all, tickets are completely free, though you'll need to register to secure your spot.
"For those who don't know, the Ellipse is a massive park that's literally, you'll be able to see the fight from the Ellipse," White added. "We have screens, we've got stages, we have music, we have activations over there... You should come to Washington, D.C. that week, the week of the fight. We're going to be doing all kinds of things in D.C. for fans. It's really a cool city. Probably most people have never been. If you're a UFC fan, this is absolutely positively the time to come to D.C."
The event itself will feature a leaner-than-usual seven-fight card, a departure from the packed undercards fans are used to. While no additional bouts have been confirmed yet, speculation is building about whether more fights will be added before fight night. For now, the lineup remains a tight, focused showcase.
In terms of broadcasting, White is sticking with ESPN+ for official coverage, despite YouTube TV recently adding UFC Fight Pass to its platform. As the fight week buzz continues, stay tuned for any shake-ups—White himself has hinted the event could be pushed back, adding an extra layer of anticipation for fans planning their trip to the nation's capital.