UFC Freedom 250, staged on Sunday night on the South Lawn of the White House, was mostly an impressive show. The main event, which pitted the second-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Ilia Topuria—the German-born lightweight champion who represents Georgia—against American underdog Justin Gaethje, lived up to its billing. Military personnel on hand chanted “USA! USA! USA!” Gaethje, 37, bloodied Topuria’s face and delivered a wicked knee to his ribs. Meanwhile Topuria, 29, continued to connect on his punches. But after the fourth of five rounds, Topuria’s corner stopped the fight, producing a storybook ending to an event that has roused widespread discussion about the appropriateness of using White House grounds for bloodsport.
The American, in the last stage of his career, prevailed against a younger fighter, in his prime, at the White House, in a celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary. “Hey, I’m from America,” said Gaethje afterwards, a ****** le belt draped over his shoulder. “250 years ago, we were way bigger than 6-to-1 [under]dogs.” UFC commentator Joe Rogan, the popular podcaster who has been calling bouts since 2002, called Gaethje’s victory “one of the great upsets” and “one of the greatest fights” in the history of the sport.
The main event wasn’t the only highlight. President Donald Trump, a longtime fight fan and friend of UFC president and CEO Dana White, sat cageside the day the U.S. and Iran reached an agreement, to be signed on Friday, to end the war that started Feb. 28. Trump saw exciting action in each fight that night. All seven, in fact, ended in a knockout or technical knockout, the first time all fights on a main card ended in knockouts in the nearly 33-year history of the UFC.
On a day that the Weather Channel forecast “rain, 30 mph winds and mosquitos on the White House lawn,” the weather broke the UFC’s way. After a 30-minute delay, the card went forward uninterrupted. The United States Marine Band played catchy live tunes, putting its spin on ditties like “The Boys Are Back In Town” and “YMCA.” Military heroes and first responders from all over the country accompanied fighters to the Octagon.
The White House backdrop, fighters walking out of the Oval Office and down the West Wing for their introductions, the shots of the Washington monument, the massive crowd watching the fight together on the Ellipse, the fireworks: it all made for a compelling sports production.

It is set to be a crucial few days for Milan, who remain in talks with several candidates over their vacant head coach, sporting and technical director roles, but owner Gerry Cardinale and advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic were all smiles as they attended the ‘UFC Freedom 250’ event on the White House lawn over the weekend.
Milan need to appoint a brand new senior management team after dismissing head coach Massimiliano Allegri, sporting director Igli Tare, technical director Geoffrey Moncada and CEO Giorgio Furlani the day after the 2025-26 season ended.
Several candidates have been linked with various management positions at San Siro, but midway through June, no appointments have yet been made.
Milan had been in talks with Ralf Rangnick to take over as the club’s technical director, and it was reported that if the German did take over, he would seek to appoint departing Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner to replace Allegri.
Rangnick, however, wanted full control over decision making and wanted to bring in his own staff across the club. Importantly, Rangnick also wanted his deal with Milan to be wrapped up before the start of the 2026 World Cup, which did not happen, and now, the former Red Bull and Manchester United chief has extended his contract with the Austria national team instead.

Fighter Jos Hokit made a crude remark about former First Lady Michelle Obama while being interviewed after winning his bout during the controversial UFC Freedom 250 event held on the White House lawn on Sunday night, which saw several high-profile attendees, including celebrities, athletes, billionaires and political leaders.
Josh Hokit speaks to Joe Rogan following his win in a heavyweight fight during the UFC Freedom 250 event.
The show began after a short weather delay and saw seven bouts on the card and ended with American fighter Justin Gaethje pulling off an upset win in the main event against Georgian Ilia Topuria to claim the Lightweight Championship.
One of the most controversial events took place after a mid-card fight, when Jos Hokit was interviewed in the octagon by UFC commentator and podcaster Joe Rogan following his win over Derrick Lewis.
Hokit ended the interview by blurting out a right-wing conspiracy theory, “Michelle Obama is a man. Am I right, America?”

US President Donald Trump celebrated his 80th and America's 250th birthday with an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event on the White House lawn.
Trump and thousands of other mixed martial arts fans watched on as American fighter Justin Gaethje beat Spanish-Georgian opponent Ilia Topuria to win the lightweight championship in the main event.
The fight night - the first ever professional sporting event held at the presidential residence - was delayed by an hour amid fears of thunderstorms.
Other administration officials were in attendance, along with UFC chief Dana White, Trump's longstanding friend. At one point in the evening, the crowd sang happy birthday to the president.
US star Gaethje wins at Trump's UFC White House show

Barron Trump took time out from his studies and fledgling energy drink business to attend the blood-soaked UFC fight card at the White House on Sunday, which also happened to be his father Donald Trump's 80th birthday.
The president's youngest son was photographed in his rare public appearance alongside the president, his mother, first lady Melania Trump, and other members of the Trump family as they watched the controversial spectacle which is part of America's 250th birthday celebrations.
The 20-year-old non-time traveler is currently studying business at New York University's Washington, D.C., campus and has kept a relatively low public profile.
Like this article? Keep independent journalism alive. Support HuffPost.
He was partially credited with his father securing the vote of younger male voters during the 2024 presidential election, a demographic that now appears to have turned on the president.

Awesome history was not made.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) interim Heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane spoiled Alex Pereira’s bid to become the first three-division champion in promotional history, knocking out “Poatan” in the second round tonight (Sun., June 14, 2026) at UFC Freedom 250 live on Paramount+ on the South Lawn in Washington, D.C., as UFC celebrated America’s 250th anniversary.
The first round between Gane and Pereira was competitive, but it seemed like the French striker was getting the better of the Brazilian future Hall of Famer, truly welcoming him to the Heavyweight division.
Then, less than 30 seconds into the second round, Gane put a stamp on his performance.
Gane dropped Pereira with a power jab and immediately started unloading heavy shots. Pereira appeared to be badly hurt — and maybe even out on his feet — but the former Middleweight and Light Heavyweight champion somehow survived the initial 30-second onslaught.

Ciryl Gane spoiled Alex Pereira's bid at history Sunday when he claimed the interim heavyweight ***** le in the UFC Freedom 250 co-main event.
Gane (14-2 MMA, 10-3 UFC) did not allow Pereira (13-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) to become a three-division champion and set up a ***** le unification rematch with Tom Aspinall courtesy of a second-round TKO triumph at the White House in Washington, D.C.
Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Gane beating Pereira at UFC Freedom 250.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC White House: Fighters react to Alex Pereira's loss to Ciryl Gane

For the second time of his career, Ciryl Gane is the UFC interim heavyweight champion. He did it by taking out one of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts.
In the co-main event of UFC Freedom 250, the Frenchman rode an avalanche of violence to defeat former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira in the second round. The win gives him another shot at heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall, who escaped their last meeting via infamous eye poke.
The result also prevents Pereira from becoming the UFC’s first three-division ******* le-holder.
Pereira had the star power going into the White House card, his heavyweight debut, but the odds were relatively even between the pair. Gane seemed to have the speed advantage, though it was a small edge in the face of Pereira’s power.
The second half was similarly balanced, then turned quickly. Gane sent Pereira reeling with a quick right, then refused to stop hitting the Brazilian until referee Herb Dean stepped in.

This is the UFC White House live blog for Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje, the lightweight championship unification main event Sunday at the White House in Washington, D.C.
Topuria (17-0) is yet to be defeated and already has a pair of UFC ******* les to his name won at 155 and 145 pounds, two of the deepest divisions in MMA. His incredible achievements have him at No. 2 in the MMA Fighting Pound-for-Pound Rankings, behind only former lightweight champion and current welterweight champion Islam Makhachev.
It’s been a ******* py road for Topuria since winning the lightweight belt in June 2025 as he unsuccessfully pursued a superfight with Makhachev and then had to take time off to deal with personal matters. However, he’s a heavy favorite heading into Sunday’s main event and for good reason. “El Matador” has already knocked out a number of legends in the cage, including Charles Oliveira and featherweight greats Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. A win over Gaethje could propel Topuria to his long-awaited grudge match with Makhachev.
Gaethje (27-5) is determined to foil those plans as he heads into what could be his last chance to become undisputed UFC champion. Already the only fighter to win two interim UFC ******* les, Gaethje has previously twice fought for the chance to be the No. 1 name at 155 pounds, but was denied by Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. “The Highlight” clawed his way back to a unification bout with consecutive wins over Paddy Pimblett and Rafael Fiziev, and could cap off one of the most memorable careers in MMA history if he defies the odds and hands Topuria his first loss.
Check out the UFC White House live blog for Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje below.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is live TONIGHT (Sun., June 14, 2026) with UFC Freedom 250, streaming live online via Paramount+. The event goes down on the White House South Lawn in Washington, D.C., with a revised start time of 8 p.m. ET 9 p.m. ET (details here).
*** For the latest weather-related updates (and delays) click here. ***
Well, it’s finally here.
After all the talking, speculation and controversy, UFC’s latest chapter as a U.S. government contractor plays out in the nation’s capital (pending a last ditch lawsuit or lightning storm).
Headlining UFC Freedom 250 is Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje for the undisputed UFC Lightweight ******* le. Topuria holds the belt, which he won from Charles Oliveira last year (re-live that here), despite a short divorce-related hiatus. Gaethje won the interim ******* le by bashing Paddy Pimblett to open up the Paramount+ era.

Sean O’Malley dropped Aimann Zahabi twice in as many seconds as he shrugged off the Canadian’s low kicks to secure a stunning, walk-off second-round knockout at UFC Freedom 250 — all while saluting in the nation’s capital.
It all went down Sunday on the South Lawn of The White House in Washington, D.C., with O’Malley hastily exiting the cage to fist-bump the commentary booth, before wishing U.S. President Donald Trump a happy 80th birthday for good measure.
“That was the plan,” the American former UFC bantamweight champion said after his win. “I said it, it’s out there.”
O’Malley, a product of Dana White's Contender Series, showed elite striking, range-finding, and finishing ability on the most spectacular of stages at the UFC Freedom 250 show.
He absorbed Zahabi’s inside low kicks but switched stances when the Canadian fighter kept landing those shots on the same leg. While Zahabi spammed that one move, O’Malley had more to offer as he threw two-to-three shot combinations and came alive in the final 30 seconds of the opening round, having seemingly found his range.

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight champion, Sean O’Malley, showed up in superstar fashion, knocking out Canada’s Aiemann Zahabi in the second round tonight (Sun., June 14, 2026) at UFC Freedom 250 live on Paramount+ on the South Lawn in Washington, D.C., as UFC celebrated America’s 250th anniversary.
The first round consisted mostly of Zahabi circling away from O’Malley and throwing leg kicks, while “Suga” patiently picked him apart and used the Canadian as a punching bag.
Then, just like O’Malley predicted during UFC Freedom 250 fight week, the knockout came.
Four minutes into the second round, O’Malley cracked Zahabi with a straight left hand that sat him down. Zahabi quickly got back to his feet, only for O’Malley to land a picture-perfect right hand that slumped him for good.
Then, O’Malley saluted the crowd.

UPDATE, 8:35 p.m. PT: One UFC fighter surprised the crowd at the White House, shouting “Michelle Obama is a man, am I right America.”
Josh Hokit had just defeated Derrick Lewis in the fourth bout. He made the remarks in his post-match interview in the ring.
More from Deadline
Laverne ****** Says She's "Lost So Much Money" Since Trump Admin Killed DEI
Donald Trump's Name Removed From Kennedy Center Facade

UFC fighter Josh Hokit ensured he would not go a night without controversy as he yelled “Michelle Obama is a man” after winning his bout at the White House.
Hokit knocked out Derrick Lewis in the third round of their heavyweight clash at the extraordinary UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn, staying undefeated after his polarising antics dominated the headlines in the week leading up.
Follow live - UFC Freedom 250 at the White House
But it was his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan that will go down in infamy as he addressed US president Donald Trump from the cage, who was sitting in the front row.
He said: “I’m the man with the plan, the beast that’s ready to feast.

Sean O’Malley promised he would finish Aiemann Zahabi and he came through with a picture perfect walkoff knockout at UFC White House on Sunday.
It was a vintage performance from O’Malley as he chipped away at the Canadian throughout the opening round before he came forward with a straight right hand that dropped Zahabi momentarily. Back on his feet, Zahabi then ate a crushing right hand from O’Malley that sent him back to the canvas again and that was enough for referee Jason Herzog to stop the fight at 4:02 in the second round.
As soon as he landed the right hand, O’Malley turned to the troops in the stand and gave a salute to celebrate his highlight reel knockout.
“It’s hard to put into words,” O’Malley said about his performance. “Manifestation is a real thing. I’ve seen this before. That was the plan. I said it, it’s out there. That was ****** y. Petr Yan! It should have been here tonight. That’s what I want next. I want Petr next.”
O’Malley was aggressive from the start, marching forward and keeping Zahabi on his back foot. Using his reach advantage, O’Malley was throwing a long jab but then attacking with a big right hand to keep Zahabi guessing.

Washington — For the first time in U.S. history, the White House is hosting United Fighting Championship bouts on Sunday, marking the nation's 250th anniversary and coinciding with President Trump's 80th birthday.
Mixed martial arts fighters are squaring off on the White House South Lawn for UFC Freedom 250, culminating in a main card fight between Georgian-Spanish Ilia Topuria and American Justin Gaethje for the undisputed UFC lightweight championship. The main card is streaming on Paramount+, which is owned by Paramount Skydance, the parent company of CBS News.
The president, Vice President JD Vance and other top officials are in attendance. The South Lawn is filled with thousands of guests, including members of the military. Fans are also watching from the nearby Ellipse, and UFC has a map of bars showing the fights.
Mr. Trump has sought to bring the fights to his presidential turf for almost a year, and UFC executive Dana White is a longtime friend of the president. The two stepped onto the balcony together at the start of the event, and someone in the crowd shouted "Happy birthday," which was met with applause. Zac Brown Band, accompanied by the Joint Armed Forces Chorus, sang the national anthem as a military flyover occurred at the end.
The UFC event is just the first of a number of events marking the country's 250th birthday. The Great American State Fair and the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., are other events on tap this summer from Freedom 250, a Trump-aligned organization planning events for the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The highest profile American fighter on Sunday's UFC Freedom 250 fight card was probably former bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley. "Suga" faced No. 6 ranked Aiemann Zahabi and hoped to build off his previous win Song Yadong.
Zahabi looked to pick up the biggest win of his career and move into **** le contention. The Canadian entered the bout riding a seven-fight winning streak.
O'Malley took the center of the octagon and pressured Zahabi. He landed to t he body with a right hand. Zahabi pressed forward and delivered a leg kick. O'Malley continued to target Zahabi's body. O'Mally dictated the pace through the first half of the round. He switched stances. Zahabi connected with a leg kick. He rushed forward with another inside leg kick. O'Malley responded with a right hand to the body. Zahabi connected with a left hook. The crowd began changing, 'USA, USA.' O'Malley landed a left hand followed by a right. He connected with a combination late in the frame. MMAWeekly scored the round 10-9 for O'Malley.
O'Malley pressed forward in the second. Zahabi landed two leg kicks followed by a right hand. O'Malley doubled up on his jab and followed with a left. Zahabi rushes in with a leg kick. He continued to target O'Malley's legs. O'Malley met Zahabi with a left hand as he moved into the pocket. O'Malley delivered a combination. Zahabi answered with leg kicks. The leg kicks from Zahabi began adding up. O'Malleuy responded with a right hand. A left hand knocked Zahabi down. He tried to get up and was hit again and O'Malley walked off and saluted.
The official time of the TKO win was 4:09 of the second round.

On Sunday night the action continues in the nation’s capital as the leading MMA promotion returns for a historic card when they present UFC Freedom 250.
The card is set to take place at The White House in Washington, D.C. In what will be the first-ever professional sporting event held at the U.S. President’s residence. UFC Freedom 250 will be headlined by a unification bout at 155 pounds, when UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria (17-0) makes his first **** le defense against interim lightweight **** leholder Justin Gaethje (27-5).
In the co-main event two-division UFC champion Alex Pereira (13-3) makes his heavyweight debut against Ciryl Gane (13-2), in a clash for the interim UFC heavyweight **** le. “Poatan” aims to become the first fighter in UFC history to win a **** le in three weight classes.
Fan favorites Diego Lopes, Josh Hokit, and former 135-pound kingpin Sean O’Malley are also set to make their return on the card.
Lopes def. Garcia by KO (2:42 of Round 2)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hockey star Matthew Tkachuk was ready to see some carnage at the White House.
“It’s going to be the under in every single fight,” he told the crowd on the Ellipse on Sunday night. “I think it’s not going to last like halfway through. They’re all going to be knockouts or finishes early.”
Tkachuk and his brother Brady — no strangers to occasional pugilism on the ice — were part of pre-fight festivities for UFC Freedom 250, the mixed martial arts event on the South Lawn of the White House on President Donald Trump's 80th birthday. While the crowd around the Octagon was full of VIPs, the Ellipse — an expansive lawn between the White House and Washington Monument — hosted a viewing party for the more common fan.
The Tkachuks appeared on stage and answered a few questions about their interest in UFC. Logan Paul was also among those who showed up to entertain the crowd, and at one point UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland arrived, causing a rush of fans in his direction. Strickland was escorted out by a group of police officers.
U.S. Park Police said Strickland’s presence resulted in disorder. He wasn’t cited or arrested, but was taken to his hotel and told not to come back to the venue.

Editor's Note: Click here for live updates and highlights from the UFC Freedom 250 at the White House.
Mauricio Ruffy had a night to remember in front of the White House on Sunday, June 14.
Ruffy produced a first-round knockout victory over Michael Chandler in one of the more anticipated matches on the UFC Freedom 250 card.
The Brazilian followed up the victory in the lightweight match with a marriage proposal while talking with commentator Joe Rogan during the postfight interview.
Ruffy's girlfriend was not in the octagon during the surprise proposal, but it was confirmed that she gave a thumbs-up from the crowd to accept.

Josh Hokit keeps rolling …
The red-hot Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight prospect-turned contender continued his destructive run through the division tonight, stopping Derrick Lewis in the second round at UFC Freedom 250 live on Paramount+ on the South Lawn in Washington, D.C., as UFC celebrated America’s 250th anniversary.
Hokit showed patience in the opening minutes, staying on the outside and chopping at “The Black Beast” with kicks. Then, once he found his opening, “The Incredible Hok” landed a picture-perfect, double-leg takedown and planted Lewis on his back.
From there, Hokit controlled the rest of the round, landing ground-and-pound, while Lewis struggled to get back to his feet. Hokit even locked up an armbar in the final 15 seconds, but Lewis survived to the horn.
Unfortunately for Lewis, he didn’t have much left after that.

WASHINGTON – UFC Freedom 250 takes place Sunday, and you can watch a live video stream of the post-event news conference here on MMA Junkie.
Expected to take part in the press conference are the winners of the championship fights of Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje and Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane, plus other key names from the card.
UFC CEO Dana White is also expected to answer questions from reporters and recap the event.
You can watch the press conference in the video above, which will go live upon the conclusion of the headlining bout.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Video: UFC White House post-fight press conference live stream

Many people are waiting for Josh Hokit's first UFC loss. They didn't get it at UFC Freedom 250.
The undefeated heavyweight contender dominated veteran Derrick Lewis on his way to a second-round TKO during a mid-card clash on the White House South Lawn. His record is now 10-0.
The fight was added later than the rest of the card, in response to Hokit's stunning win over Curtis Blaydes at UFC 327 in April. This ended up being a similar bout, with Hokit facing a larger opponent and progressively dismantling him with superior speed and borderline irresponsible aggression.
The first round was a clear 10-8, with Hokit taking Lewis to the ground where the dangerous striker was helpless. Hokit nearly ended the fight there with an armbar, but couldn't figure out how to get Lewis to tap.
Lewis was exhausted to the point of tottering in the second round, and it was only a matter of time before Hokit finished things off.

Josh Hokit had little trouble remaining undefeated after dominating and finishing Derrick Lewis at UFC White House on Sunday.
The always outspoken heavyweight was on the attack from the jump, taking Lewis down and brutalizing him on the ground. In the second round, Hokit was just toying with Lewis, constantly battering him with overhand rights that were landing at will.
Finally, Hokit put together a great combination that just put Lewis down and the ***** ault continued until the referee saved Lewis from further harm with the fight ending at 4:09 in the second round.
“I’m the man with the plan. The beast that’s ready to feast,” Hokit shouted following his win. “Now listen, Alex Pereira, I want to chama on your mama.”
Prior to his callout, Hokit opened the fight with a series of kicks, going to the legs and then looking back up top to the head. Lewis was reserved just waiting for the moment to unleash while dealing a smaller but much faster heavyweight.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) at the White House on Sunday is the first-ever professional sporting event at the US presidential residence, but hot weather and thunderstorms expected to sweep across the city are causing delays.
About 4,300 people are expected at the invite-only mixed martial arts event on the South Lawn, with another 85,000 expected at a nearby fan zone.
A weather forecast that includes the air thickening to humidity exceeding 70%, temperatures hovering around 80F (27C), and winds gusting through the area, meant the action was put off for an hour. Its original start time was 20:00 EDT (midnight GMT, 01:00 BST).
The National Weather Service has warned "damaging thunderstorms" may shake the region in the evening, and it forecasts a 70% chance of rain that could drop as much as half an inch of water on Washington.
The event coincides with President Donald Trump's 80th birthday, which is also Flag Day, and is part of celebrations for America's 250th anniversary.

Who won UFC White House fights? Updated results for Topuria vs. Gaethje and full Freedom 250 card originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
MMA has never seen an event quite like Sunday's UFC card in Washington D.C.
At UFC Freedom 250, in honor of the United States' 250th birthday, fighters will be competing with a historic spectacle surrounding them: the White House lawn.
Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje will have the headlining bout on Sunday at the White House, while six additional fights are scheduled for the high-profile event.
Here's an updated look at the results from the UFC Freedom 250 card.

The UFC appears to have borrowed the informal motto of the U.S. Postal Service as its President and CEO Dana White dismissed concerns about the weather leading up to UFC Freedom 250, set to take place on the South Lawn of the White House on June 14.
"Listen, the show goes on on Sunday, no matter what happens. We're going. I don't care if it rains, snows," White said. "I'm sick and tired of hearing about all the weather now."
"We are fighting on Sunday night on the White House lawn,” White said, adding, "no matter what!"
The National Weather Service forecast for June 14 in Washington, DC, includes a severe thunderstorm watch until 11 p.m. ET, with the chance of scattered showers and wind gusts up to 22 miles per hour.
The event was scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET, but the UFC later announced that it will delay the start of the fights to 9 p.m. ET.

Novig Promo Code TSNEWS50: Claim $50 Bonus for World Cup, UFC White House Trades originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Let’s be real, there is nothing better than the thrill of the FIFA World Cup—except maybe getting some extra ammunition to back your favorite squads. By signing up here with the Novig promo codeTSNEWS50, new customers can play $5 and get $50 in Novig Coins. I love this offer because it gives us the perfect starting point to dive into the market and chase a nice pay day across any of today's matchups or matches happening throughout the week.
Before we start handicapping today's fixtures and locking in our predictions, let's review the essential details of this welcome offer.
Novig Promo Code
TSNEWS50

Why Zac Brown is performing the national anthem at UFC Freedom 250 White House card originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House on Sunday is a unique sporting event, so Dana White landed a notable country star to perform the national anthem. Zac Brown, lead singer of the Zac Brown Band, is set to perform "The Star-Spangled Banner" in Washington, D.C. ahead of the seven-fight card.
Brown is no stranger to lending ******* istance to big sporting events. The Zac Brown Band sings the opening song to NBC's Sunday Night Baseball coverage every week, and he has sung the national anthem at a few sporting events in his life.
Brown's decision to be a part of the proceedings was somewhat controversial, but the singer believes this represents a huge honor. Here's why Brown will sing the national anthem tonight.
MORE: Live weather updates from the UFC White House event

How much is UFC Freedom 250? PPV price, cost to watch Donald Trump's White House fights originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Justin Gaethje looks to represent America as he competes for the UFC lightweight ***** le on the White House lawn on June 14.
UFC Freedom 250 celebrates America’s 250th birthday, on President Donald Trump’s birthday.
Gaethje (27-5), the former BMF Champion, attempts to be an American hero, winning gold from the Georgian and Spanish fighter. Topuria (17-0), a two-division champion, returns to action and looks to dismantle another opponent.
There’s been plenty of tension between the two fighters leading up to fight night. However, Topuria, who has taken out Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway, and Charles Oliveira, credited Gaethje’s skills before adding that his style will result in him standing tall.