Trump Shows Renderings of UFC Freedom 250 Octagon on South Lawn

President Donald Trump gave fans a first look at renderings of the UFC Freedom 250 octagon planned for the White House South Lawn. The event nears after nearly a year of planning.

Trump stood with fighters from the co-main events in the Oval Office on Wednesday. Alex Pereira will fight Cyril Gane, and Justin Gaethje will face Ilia Topuria.

He showed pictures of the setup, with the White House in the background and 4,000 seats around the octagon. A lit arch will cover the fighters.

"I’m a big sports fan – there are no people tougher in sports than the people behind me. These are the toughest. I know them all," Trump said.

Trump called the "big fight" the "greatest show on earth." He said upwards of 100,000 people can watch in Washington, D.C., on eight large screens near the White House.

"What an unbelievable honor... To have a president that's willing to go against an upstream and against the norms is truly special. That's why you got my vote. And, it's why we're such a great nation right now compared to where we were," Gaethje said.

Gaethje credited Trump for UFC's current popularity. He said the organization would be "10 years behind" without Trump's support in the early 1990s, when UFC struggled to gain acceptance due to its violent nature.

Trump announced the event on July 3 last year. UFC CEO Dana White confirmed it the next month. Organizers set the date for June 14, which is Trump's 80th birthday and Flag Day.

The card marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence signing. An IndyCar race will also run this summer for the America250 celebration.

Michael Chandler will fight Mauricio Ruffy. Other fighters include Bo Nickal and Sean O'Malley.