UFC CEO Dana White has ruled out hosting another fight night at the White House, despite the success of UFC Freedom 250, which took place on the South Lawn on Monday. The event, held to celebrate President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, featured a championship win by Justin Gaethje and a meet-and-greet with the President. White cited the uniqueness of the experience as the reason for his decision.

The UFC Freedom 250 event saw Gaethje defeat Ilia Topuria in the main event, winning the UFC lightweight title and $825,000 in bonus money. The event also featured a performance by the Marine Band, tributes to first responders and active military, and a visit to the White House by the fighters, including a tour of the West Wing and the Oval Office.

UFC White House Fight

The success of the event was evident in the merchandise sales and streaming service subscriptions, with White stating that the UFC surpassed its goals in every metric. However, the event was not without controversy, with two UFC fighters, Sean Strickland and Josh Hokit, making headlines for their behavior. Strickland was escorted out of the Ellipse watch party by police officers, while Hokit made an unfounded attack on former first lady Michelle Obama.

Despite the controversy, White expressed hope that the event had created unity among Americans, and that new fans would stick around for future events. The UFC is set to host International Fight Week, with UFC 329 marking the return of Conor McGregor, the company’s biggest box office draw, in a traditional arena in Las Vegas.

Future of UFC Events

The decision by White to rule out future fights at the White House comes as a surprise, given the success of the event. However, it is likely that the UFC will focus on hosting events in more traditional arenas, such as the one in Las Vegas. The event has sparked interest in the sport, with many Americans tuning in for the first time to watch the fights.

The UFC’s decision to host an event at the White House was seen as a bold move, and one that sparked controversy and debate. However, the success of the event has shown that the UFC is capable of hosting events in unique and unconventional locations. As the sport continues to grow in popularity, it will be interesting to see where the UFC decides to host its future events.