US military personnel to self-fund attendance at White House UFC event
Internal documents obtained by the Washington Post detail strict uniform and fitness requirements for troops attending the UFC Freedom 250 celebration on the South Lawn.
The US Department of Defence is recruiting hundreds of junior enlisted personnel and junior officers to attend the UFC Freedom 250 event on the south lawn of the White House on June 14. According to internal memos obtained by the Washington Post, personnel solicited to attend must meet specific height and weight requirements, as well as physical fitness test standards established by the Pentagon.
The event, promoted as a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, will see approximately 4,000 uniformed personnel in attendance, with UFC CEO Dana White estimating the figure. Troops are required to wear short-sleeve dress uniforms and occupy standing-room-only sections. The Defence Department has clarified that only uniformed personnel are permitted, and family members are not allowed to attend.
A significant administrative detail involves the financial burden placed on attendees. Internal communications describe the travel and accommodation costs as “member-procured,” indicating that neither the military nor the UFC will fund these expenses. Personnel are expected to pay for their own travel and lodging to Washington for the event.
The seven-fight card features a lightweight championship bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje, alongside a heavyweight interim title match between Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane. No women’s matches are scheduled for the evening. White had attempted to arrange a title bout between Zhang Weili and Mackenzie Dern to attract a larger international audience, but the fight did not materialise as Zhang is taking time away from competition.
White has characterised the event as a “money-losing enterprise” for the company, estimating it will cost approximately $30 million to stage. Expenses include temporary seating, repairs to the lawn, and a lighting canopy constructed 87 feet above the Octagon to ensure the White House remains visible during the telecast. Thousands of additional spectators are expected to watch from a nearby viewing party.
