WASHINGTON — The nationalist anthem was a caller interaction for an Ultimate Fighting Championship card.
So was a radical of fans deciding to serenade the president with a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday” during the archetypal bout of the nighttime conscionable steps from his residence.
There was adjacent an in-cage proposal.
UFC Freedom 250 connected the South Lawn of the White House was not the emblematic lawsuit produced by the Las Vegas-based Ultimate Fighting Championship, adjacent beyond the mixed martial arts organization’s first rainfall delay.
Once the doorbell rang connected each of the 7 fights, however, it was concern arsenic accustomed wrong the cage arsenic all ended successful knockout.
Yet the juncture was thing but normal, peculiarly erstwhile determination was nary enactment going connected successful the cage built conscionable steps from the president’s residence.
Despite concerns implicit the upwind with the portion expecting upwind and thunderstorms, it turned retired to beryllium a mild and peaceful evening isolated from occasional gusts of wind.
The combat paper got underway little than an hr precocious and was capable to proceed without interruption.
It opened with President Donald Trump emerging from the White House and walking side-by-side down the South Portico steps with UFC president and CEO Dana White.
They watched the Zac Brown Band execute “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which typically does not get played earlier UFC events, earlier looking up for a 12-jet flyover supra the astir 100-foot canopy implicit the impermanent 4,300-seat venue filled with politicians, athletes, overseas dignitaries and work members from each of the branches of the United States military.
While the paper was dubbed arsenic portion of a summerlong solemnisation of the 250th day of the country, it besides happened to autumn connected Trump’s 80th birthday.
He was greeted with respective well-wishes connected his mode into the venue earlier immoderate successful the assemblage sang to him betwixt the archetypal and 2nd combat of the night. Trump looked connected from his cageside spot with respective members of his family, including woman Melania and lad Barron.
Throughout the evening, a who’s who of politicians, celebrities and almighty concern radical would instrumentality turns approaching and shaking hands betwixt fights.
Several fighters acknowledged Trump aft signaling victories.
“It feels amazing,” middleweight Bo Nickal said aft knocking retired Kyle Daukaus successful the archetypal circular of a middleweight bout. “First and foremost, I person to convey President Trump for making this happen.”
Several of the fighters’ entranceway walks, which began wrong the White House, included songs that were performed by “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band arsenic opposed to the vigor versions usually pumped into an arena.
Lightweight Mauricio Ruffy whitethorn beryllium hiring a antithetic set pursuing a spinning instrumentality footwear with punches to sound retired seasoned Michael Chandler successful the archetypal round.
“I privation to accidental something,” Ruffy said done a translator. “A portion agone erstwhile I met my wife, Nadine, I truly wanted to inquire her to wed maine but I didn’t person the money. But now, what amended spot to inquire my woman to get married?
“Nadine. I emotion you. Would you wed maine since we’re close present astatine the White House?”
He got a thumbs-up.
The paper besides drew reasonably affirmative reviews, though determination was plentifulness of dissent connected societal media astir the symbolism of specified an event, particularly 1 that had a few governmental moments.
Ciryl Gane took the interim heavyweight loop by knocking retired erstwhile middleweight and airy heavyweight champion Alex Pereira successful the co-main event. Justin Gaethje took the lightweight rubric from Ilia Topuria with a fourth-round stoppage successful the different main event.
Bantamweight Sean O’Malley, heavyweight Josh Hokit and featherweight Diego Lopes besides picked up stoppage victories.
Contact Adam Hill astatine ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ connected X.
English (US)·