The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is preparing for a landmark event at the White House on June 14, a venture expected to cost upwards of $60 million. TKO Group Holdings, the parent company, is absorbing all costs, including building an arena on the White House's south lawn and fighter compensation.
UFC President and CEO Dana White reacts during a bantamweight fight between Adrian Luna Martinetti of Ecuador and Mark Vologdin of Russia during Dana White's Contender Series season nine, week nine at UFC APEX on Oct. 07, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Mark Shapiro, TKO Group Holdings president and chief operating officer, stated that the promotion aims to offset approximately half of the expenditure through sponsorships and corporate partnerships. He emphasized that the event is viewed as a long-term investment in "earned media," attracting new fans, and expanding viewership, particularly in conjunction with the America 250 celebration.
UFC CEO Dana White (left) talks to President-elect Donald Trump ringside during UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)
Shapiro confirmed that UFC "will not profit from the White House event independently." Dana White has previously described the planned fight card as one of the most expensive and greatest ever assembled.