FLASH
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Activities for the 250th anniversary of US independence were combined with the celebration of Donald Trump's 80th birthday.
US President Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday in a special and spectacular evening, which was organized in parallel with activities for the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.
He hosted Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) matches, setting up an octagonal cage on the White House lawn. He watched the matches from the front row along with First Lady Melania Trump and UFC president Dana White. Also in attendance were Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Paramount CEO David Ellison, Republican lawmakers, and members of the president's family.
The night of games drew enthusiasm from Trump supporters but was also criticized by his opponents, who deemed it inappropriate. However, Trump himself, in a tweet on Monday morning, described the event as an “incredible” spectacle.
"UFC at the White House last night was incredible. The weather was predicted to be terrible, but it turned out perfect! So much for the weather forecast," Trump wrote on the Truth Social platform Monday morning.
The matches took place in an octagonal arena surrounded by a metal cage. Above the arena was a 92-foot-high (about 28 meters) and 600-ton steel arch called the “Glow.”
The US military was closely integrated into the event's program. Country singer Zac Brown performed the national anthem as military aircraft flew overhead. The US Marine Corps Band performed throughout the event, while the UFC's telecast featured live footage of US troops watching the matches from their missions overseas.
Officially, the event was part of America's 250th anniversary celebrations. More than 4,000 people won the coveted South Lawn tickets, including members of the armed forces.
Hot and humid weather threatened to complicate the outdoor event. The event started almost an hour late due to the threat of thunderstorms. The UFC had a meteorologist on site to monitor lightning activity, which, according to organizers, was the only factor that could have forced the interruption of the matches.
Sponsors are expected to help the UFC recoup at least half of the estimated $60 million cost of the event, while the publicity generated could be worth even more.
Thousands of attendees on Sunday, mostly men of various ages and ethnicities, waited in line to watch the games on giant screens located on the Ellipse area, south of the White House.
In terms of sport, all seven matches ended in technical knockouts. The highlight of the evening was American Justin Gaethje's victory over Georgian-Spanish champion and heavy favorite, Ilia Topuria, reclaiming the lightweight title.
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