Topline

UFC president Dana White defended the upcoming White House “Freedom 250” fight from critics, including Joe Rogan, who have suggested holding the event is insensitive or a possible safety concern amid the war in Iran, in a series of interviews published Tuesday.

Key Facts

What Else Did White Say About The White House Ufc Fight?

In interviews this week with Rolling Stone, Time and the New Yorker, White said the event came to be because Trump, whom he describes as a friend, approached him at a UFC match and said, “You know what? We should do a fight at the White House.” White told the New Yorker the UFC and the Trump administration began planning details days later. White offered some logistical details in interviews this week, telling the New Yorker the stands at the White House will seat slightly more than 4,000 spectators, of which Trump has 1,000 tickets to distribute and White has 200. Ari Emanuel, CEO of UFC owner TKO Holdings, has another 200 tickets to distribute, with the rest reserved for military members, White said. White told Time he invited several celebrities, including Adam Sandler, Tom Brady, Jared Leto, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Mario Lopez, but did not say whether they accepted. Fighters will warm up in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and will walk out from the Oval Office, Time reported, and White told the New Yorker weigh-ins will happen at the Lincoln Memorial.

What Did White Say About His Relationship With Trump?

Across multiple interviews this week, White said his friendship with Trump is not about politics. White said his relationship with Trump dates back to 2001, when the UFC staged fights at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey. White told Rolling Stone Trump “showed up to the first fight of the night and stayed till the last fight,” saying he became a “very good friend.” White told Rolling Stone he and Trump “don’t talk politics,” saying Trump has never asked him to get involved politically. Though White did speak at the 2024 Republican National Convention, he told the New Yorker his speech was about Trump as a person and a friend, rather than about politics. White described himself as “down the middle, leaning a little left,” and an “eighties, nineties Democrat” to the New Yorker.

Surprising Fact

White defended Trump against allegations he is racist by invoking the president’s friendship with Michael Jackson. “I can tell you that the President had a very good relationship with Michael Jackson, and had Michael Jackson around his kids all the time, and defended him when that stuff was going down. So to call the guy a racist is crazy,” White told the New Yorker, saying there are “videos now popping up of Trump defending Michael Jackson” after the “Michael” movie opened in theaters last month.

Tangent

White told the New Yorker a $7.7 billion deal the UFC struck with Paramount last year did not make him a billionaire. “I do really well,” White said, adding, “I spend too much money. I’ll never be a billionaire.” Forbes estimated last year White’s net worth exceeds $600 million.

Key Background

Trump first announced the UFC fight at the White House in July 2025, telling supporters at a rally in Iowa, “We’re going to have a UFC fight, think of this, on the grounds of the White House,” also praising White as “one of a kind.” The UFC announced the lineup for the White House event in March, though the card was met with mixed reactions from fans as it lacked legends like Conor McGregor or Jon Jones. The event’s main fight is a lightweight match between American Justin Gaethje against Ilia Topuria of Georgia.

Further Reading

UFC’s Hyped White House Fight Card Missing Sport’s Legends (Forbes)

This article was originally published on Forbes.com