STORY: Crowds gathered to watch mixed martial arts bouts at a specially built arena on the White House’s South Lawn on Sunday (June 14), as U.S. President Donald Trump hosted a card of seven fights on his 80th birthday.

At the event titled "UFC Freedom 250", Trump is set to watch 14 mixed martial arts fighters from five countries try to kick, punch and grapple their way to a victory before an expected audience of 4,000 people inside a 92-foot-tall (28 meters) makeshift venue, nicknamed "The Claw."

The headline fight, scheduled for up to five rounds, features UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria against former interim titleholder Justin Gaethje.

The event comes as Trump grapples with the four-month-old Iran war that has pushed consumer prices to a three-year high and, as shown in public opinion polls, unnerved many voters. It also coincides with his 80th birthday and his efforts to counter perceptions that he is becoming a lame duck president.

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Trump, crowds look on as UFC fights unfold at White House

VIDEO SHOWS: U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, AND CROWDS WATCHING UFC FREEDOM 250 EVENT

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SHOWS: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JUNE 14, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. VARIOUS OF AIRCRAFT PERFORMING FLY-BY OVER CROWD AROUND LARGE SCREENS SET UP FOR UFC FREEDOM 250 EVENT

2. VARIOUS OF CROWD AROUND LARGE SCREENS

3. PEOPLE STANDING ON TOP OF WHITE HOUSE

4. VARIOUS OF CROWD AROUND LARGE SCREENS

WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JUNE 14, 2026) (UNRESTRICTED POOL - Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

5. U.S. PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, SEEN BEHIND FENCING OF EIGHT-SIDED CAGE KNOWN AS THE "OCTAGON"

6. MAKESHIFT VENUE NICKNAMED "THE CLAW" / CROWD AROUND THE OCTAGON

7. TRUMP TALKING TO FAMILY MEMBERS, INCLUDING ERIC AND IVANKA TRUMP, BESIDE THE OCTAGON

8. TRUMP TALKING TO ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP (UFC) CEO, DANA WHITE

9. WHITE HOUSE, U.S. FLAG FLYING

10. WASHINGTON MONUMENT BEHIND CROWDS

11. U.S. FLAG FLYING

WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JUNE 14, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS) (MUTE)

12. WHITE HOUSE, LIGHTS ON THE CLAW PULSING