WASHINGTON, D.C. — UFC pulled off the first pro sporting event at the White House with enthralling knockouts and almost no major logistical issues, but in a polarized country the impact of the card will likely be debated for some time.
The UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn of America’s most famous landmark was an unprecedented event that drove huge interest and endless opinions across the country. The card featured seven fights -- fewer than a typical event -- but every one of them ended with a knockout or TKO. That’s the first time that’s ever happened in UFC history and indicates that UFC’s matchmakers delivered despite heavy criticism from some corners of social media in recent months that the card didn’t fit the bill of such a historic sporting event.
The card was shown exclusively on Paramount+, something that also drew some criticism on social media on Sunday night. At the fan fest across the street from the White House, UFC President and CEO Dana White said that 60,000 people attended Saturday’s ceremonial weigh-ins and that almost 200,000 went through the turnstiles over the course of the two-day weekend. About 4,300 people were expected at the temporary venue on the South Lawn, and the seats appeared to be close to full when the card started.
The card drew huge reaction. Nine of the top 30 trends on X on Sunday night were about the UFC event, including seven of the top 10 as of 10:49pm ET. At his post-fight press conference, White said UFC beat its all-time sales record for merchandise at an event by double, and that he had just spoken with Paramount Skydance Corp. CEO David Ellison, who was “going crazy” because it was a “monstrous” night for Paramount+. Noting that the expected rain ended up splitting the White House on either side, White added, “You couldn’t have had a better night -- it was absolutely perfect.”
