Donald Trump joked that UFC fighters were “animals” as he showed off an artist’s impression of an Octagon for the first time. The Orange Manbaby, 79, proudly posed with a new championship belt which will be on the line during the fight on the White House lawn.
Champion fighter Justin Gaethje – who will headline the event on Trump’s 80th birthday next month – thanked the US President for letting the UFC fight in his properties in the 1990s when others wouldn’t as “they thought we were just absolute animals.”
Trump chuckled to himself and interrupted by saying: “Well, they were right about that, though… In one way.”
Trump called a press conference to promote the event, billed as UFC Freedom 250, which will take place on the south lawn of the Presidential mansion on June 14 as part of a series of events to mark 250 years of US independence.
A beaming Trump was seen posing with the championship belt as he was flanked by UFC fighters and showed off mocked up images of the stage, which is expected to be attended by around 4,000 fans on the lawn. Trump claimed that the entire country is invited to the ‘free’ event and said 100,000 people were expected to watch on big screens at The Ellipse, the 52-acre park south of the White House fence.
He told reporters: “It’s going to happen right in front of the White House. Here’s a picture. I think a lot of people haven’t seen this yet. Not bad, right? In the park right across the street, they’re going to have anywhere from 75,000 to 100,000 people free.
“They’re going to set up eight big screens and they’re going to have the fight and then out here, we’re going to have 4,000 seats right in front of the front door of the White House. We’re having a big fight, it’s never going to happen again, it’s never happened before and it’s all of the best fighters. The best four fighters are standing behind me and they’re all champions.
“I think it’s going to be the biggest event we’ve ever had at the White House. The White House doesn’t really do athletic events for the most part, and these are all the greatest champions in the world.
“They’re the greatest fighters in the world, you can tell by looking at them.”
The seven-match event is said to be costing the UFC roughly $60million, with a ring of steel being erected around the White House as security is ramped up.
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