The White House South Lawn is now a construction site, with crews building a UFC octagon cage for a fight on June 14. The event is part of the U.S. 250th anniversary celebrations and President Donald Trump's 80th birthday.
The wire-mesh octagon will sit on a red, white, and blue stage under a towering arch with stars and stripes, flanked by two large screens. Thousands of temporary seats will surround the cage, with a designated area for a marching band.
Two championship fights are scheduled: Brazil's Alex Pereira versus France's Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title, and Spanish-Georgian lightweight champion Ilia Topuria against interim champ Justin Gaethje, one of only two American champions.
The UFC is offering up to 85,000 free tickets for viewers at the South Lawn and The Ellipse park. The event is one of several planned for the 250th anniversary, including an IndyCar race past the White House and the Great American State Fair on the National Mall.