UFC fights to take place at White House on Trump’s birthday next year

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that a previously announced Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House will take place on June 14 next year, which will be his 80th birthday, Reuters reports.

The event will be part of celebrations marking 250 years since the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, according to Axios.

He made the announcement during a speech at Naval Station Norfolk to mark the upcoming 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy, according to Reuters.

Trump in July had announced that a UFC event would take place at the White House in 2026, but did not give a date.

Trump counts UFC President Dana White as a close friend.

White this week told the Sports Business Journal that the UFC will spend $700,000 to replace the South Lawn grass at the White House after the event.

Since becoming president, Trump has been a regular attendee at UFC fights, most recently attending one in New Jersey in June. But the relationship between Trump and White goes back to 2000, when the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City was one of the few U.S. venues willing to host UFC events at the time, according to Reuters.