A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled Friday to allow a special Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts event to proceed on the White House South Lawn this Sunday. The judge rejected legal challenges and efforts to block the event, permitting the fights to take place inside a towering new structure already built on the grounds.
The $60-million spectacle is designed to mark both President Donald Trump's 80th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The event features a cage fight situated under a 600-tonne steel "claw" that stands 28 metres tall as part of the president's DC-wide makeover.
Preparations for the fight have required a monumental effort from more than seven federal agencies and hundreds of staff working onsite daily. Despite the logistical preparations, the planned event on the White House grounds has sparked widespread controversy.