Better late than never for the UFC’s one-of-a-kind occasion at the White House.
UFC Freedom 250 went off following a first-ever UFC rain delay Sunday night time on the South Lawn, pushing back the broadcast’s begin time by 20 minutes amid considerations of thunderstorms in the space.
“We thought this thing would be called off for rain, but we’re good,” shade commentator Joe Rogan said before the fights started at 8:53 p.m., with the backdrop of the White House in full view of the broadcast.
Apropos for a distinctive occasion at one America’s most iconic places, the broadcast leaned into pomp and circumstance from the leap.
President Trump and UFC CEO Dana White made their method toward the octagon from the Oval Office to the tune of “Liberty Fanfare” by composer John Williams, monitoring their actions in a “West Wing” model trek through the White House. After the presentation of the colours, Trump and White were launched on the decrease balcony and ultimately made their method cageside.
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he attends UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. REUTERS
Zac Brown Band carried out “The Star-Spangled Banner,” with the Blue Angels performing a flyover at the conclusion. “U-S-A” chants then broke out from the roughly 4,300 in attendance, composed largely of navy service members.
Fighters walked to the Octagon flanked by uniformed service members, with American Steve Garcia first to make his method to the cage draped in the U.S. flag and sharing a hug with the servicemen who accompanied him.
But as Rogan famous, the climate was a concern in the prefight.
Steve Garcia walks out of the White House for a featherweight bout against Diego Lopes during UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House on June 14, 2026 in Washington, DC. ZUMAPRESS.com
UFC Freedom 250 takes place on the South Lawn of the White House, Monday, June 15, 2026, in Washington. via REUTERS
Though the occasion appeared too large to truly be “called off,” uncertainty due to the climate solid doubt about when the motion might truly begin.
At varied instances all through the day, climate forecasts steered anywhere from 50-50 odds to one hundred pc certainty that thunderstorms would hit Washington.
Lightning strikes were the only climate aspect White recognized that could throw off plans to full the occasion inside of about 4 hours.
“I don’t care if it snows, rains, whatever; we’re going,” White informed reporters Tuesday. “And even lightning. You guys all played sports when you were growing up — whenever there was lightning, you’d sit the lightning out, and then when it was over, you played. That’s what we’ll do.”
Source hyperlink
