President Donald Trump has compared the UFC structure being built at the White House to the Eiffel Tower and says he may "never, ever take it down."
The UFC is set to host an unprecedented show on the South Lawn in Washington DC on June 14, celebrating 250 years of American independence. Construction has begun, with domed arches rising over the staging area for the octagon.
Trump remarked, "We're building something in front of the White House that's quite attractive to a lot of people. And I'm looking at it and maybe we'll never, ever take it down." He referenced Paris's decision to keep the Eiffel Tower, originally meant to be temporary.
The event, called UFC Freedom 250, carries a $60 million price tag. The main event features lightweight champion Ilia Topuria against interim title holder Justin Gaethje. The co-main event pits Alex Pereira against Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title.
Around 4,300 people, mostly military members, will watch on the South Lawn. An additional 85,000 free tickets are available for the general public to watch at nearby Ellipse Park. No tickets are on general sale.
This marks the first professional live sporting event on White House grounds, part of a series of renovations by the Trump administration.