U.S. President Donald Trump announced Sunday that a high-profile Ultimate Fighting Championship event will take place on the White House grounds next June 14—his 80th birthday—shifting from an earlier July 4 plan and marking a historic first for the brutal mixed martial arts promotion at the seat of American power.

Speaking to sailors at Naval Station Norfolk, Trump revealed the "big UFC fight" without naming fighters, emphasizing its scale. "We're going to have a big UFC fight at the White House—right at the White House, on the grounds," he said, tying it to his long-standing fandom.

UFC CEO Dana White had floated a July 4 date in August for the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, but Trump pivoted to his personal milestone.

Trump's affinity for UFC dates to 2001, when he hosted bouts in Atlantic City, and has deepened since, with the 79-year-old attending UFC 316 in June and drawing cheers from the young male demographic that backed his 2024 win.

White, in a YouTube news conference, hyped it as "the greatest fight card ever assembled," promising a spectacle blending combat and spectacle at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

UFC, the premier MMA outfit, pits fighters in an eight-sided Octagon using jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, and wrestling, with few restrictions beyond eye-gouging. Its popularity surges among men under 35, but critics decry the head trauma risks, with doctors warning of brain damage from repeated blows.

Trump's embrace aligns with his "fighter" image, though the White House bout raises optics questions in a polarized nation.