Trump hosts UFC event on White House lawn for 80th birthday

US President Donald Trump marked his 80th birthday and America's 250th anniversary with an Ultimate Fighting Championship event on the White House lawn.

The championship was the first professional sporting event held at the presidential residence. Thunderstorms threatened the card for much of the day, but the fights went ahead after an hour's delay.

Trump walked from the White House to the arena with UFC chief Dana White. Military planes flew overhead as the event opened.

Fourteen fighters competed in back-to-back bouts. The main card featured Georgian-Spanish lightweight Ilia Topuria against American Justin Gaethje.

About 4,300 people attended the invite-only mixed martial arts event on the South Lawn. Another 85,000 were expected at a nearby fan zone.

High humidity, temperatures near 80F (27C) and gusting winds forced the original 20:00 EDT start time to be pushed back.

The event also marked Flag Day. The crowd sang happy birthday to the president.

Trump sat next to the Octagon beside White and several family members. Both of his sons attended. FBI Director Kash Patel cheered from his seat.

Medal of Honor recipients and first responders escorted the fighters to the stage.

Brazilian fighter Diego Lopes, the first winner on the lawn, said the setting was incredible.

The UFC spent about $60 million on the event, including $700,000 for grass repairs afterward.

The centerpiece was the Claw, a 92-foot-high, 600-tonne metal structure that loomed over the Octagon.

The event streamed exclusively on Paramount+, run by Trump ally David Ellison. Last year UFC signed a $7.7 billion deal with the service.

Trump called the show the greatest on Earth and compared the Claw to the Eiffel Tower.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised UFC as the definition of American soft diplomatic power and announced a public-private partnership to use the sport as a diplomatic tool.

Days before the fights, the Public Integrity Project filed a lawsuit on behalf of two Virginia residents seeking to cancel the event. The suit argued the event was deeply corrupt and cited Trump's ties to Dana White. A judge denied an emergency injunction on Friday.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Friday found that 16 percent of Americans thought the event appropriate at the White House, while 46 percent called it inappropriate. Only about a third of Republicans approved.

The UFC card is one of several events planned for the country's 250th anniversary, including an IndyCar race around the National Mall and a Great American State Fair in July.

Mid-afternoon temperatures in Washington reached about 91F (33C) on Sunday.