Logan Church: I went inside Trump’s UFC arena at the White House

Corruption or a gift?

In a country where everything seems to be changing by the day, one event has caused more conversation, more controversy and more criticism than perhaps anything else – the upcoming UFC fight on the White House Lawn.

The event is being held to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the USA, we’re told. But it’s also on Donald Trump’s birthday and will likely make his friends a lot of money, or so its critics say.

I had to see this thing for myself.

So, I woke up at 4.30am to make a call time of 5.40am at a downtown DC hotel, to be transported with a group of news media in two luxury shuttle buses the kilometre or so to the White House South Lawn guest entrance.

Then came the two-hour security screening by the Secret Service – who, unlike my previous experiences with the agency – were lovely. They even wheeled out chilly bins filled with iced water in cans with ‘freedom’ stamped on the back. By this point it was 6.30am, and the temperature was in the high twenties.

But the arena itself was... something else.

It is a gigantic, monolithic structure. It towers about 7 metres above the White House and is directly in front of the residence's exit to the South Lawn – identified by the Secret Service agent who rushed to me when I got too close.

We, journalists, are often a hard group to impress, but speaking with those on this tour with me, it became obvious that no one – including those based in DC – had ever seen anything quite like it.

Just meters from the White House, the superstructure begins. Grandstands built on scaffolding – 4000 people can apparently sit and watch – and a raised platform for an orchestra too. The towering ‘claw’ soaring into the sky, laden with lights and a canvas roof that will provide some protection in a city that’s been hit by rain much of the week.

Cameras. Screens. Advertising. A fighting arena. The White House sitting behind.

Several members of the public outside the White House complex didn't mince their words when I spoke to them later on.

“It is disgusting, it is ostentatious, it is an exorbitant waste of money. It’s an example of them wanting to provide bread and circuses – but without the bread,” one woman told me out the front of the White House perimeter, behind a border fence that had been extended since Donald Trump returned to office.

“The UFC on the South Lawn of the White House is the physical representation of what this government is doing to itself and the world right now, and I’m ashamed.”

Plenty of others spoke to me with similar views but wouldn’t be interviewed on camera for fear of reprisal from their employer or government.

Some in the UFC itself had similar views. At a recent press conference, fighter Bryce Mitchell said he understood – and supported - why the UFC leapt at the opportunity to have such a high-profile venue but took issue with the White House’s involvement.

“The government should not be hosting sporting events because there is room for corruption, and we have a corrupt government,” he said.

I spoke to some of those expected to take to the arena this Monday, including Michael Chandler, in the lead-up to the event. I asked him about the political noise around the event and about those who think it shouldn’t take place.

“I've got a message for those who take that stance but are MMA fans. You should, whether this fight is on the White House lawn or it's anywhere, something of this magnitude; you should be celebrating because you're a mixed martial arts fan. This is the biggest platform we could have ever asked for,” Chandler told me.

“If Dana [White, president of UFC] gets approached to do an event on the White House lawn, no matter who the president is, no matter what the administration is, whether it's red or blue, left or right, he's going to do it - just like I would if I was running this company,” he said.

“But I think it's a lot less political than people think. It's a celebration of America, but there's going to be people that you're just not going to be able to convince that this is not political.”

Fighter Steve Garcia, who’s opening the event facing Diego Lopes, had a blunter assessment.

“I'll punch you whether you're left, right, down the middle, I don't care, I'm going to hit you, so it doesn't matter,” he said.

“And I hope everybody else can come united and just be, you know, enjoying these fights for even just a few hours, you know what I mean? That's what matters to me. I love my country, and I'm excited to get to represent my country.”

Walking the streets around the White House, I found people who were excited that something like this was happening.

“It's crazy, I never thought I'd ever see a fight on the White House lawn - I'm excited to see it,” said Kayla, who’d stopped by just to see the arena being built.

“It’s kind of weird that’s on the White House, but with Trump you never know what’s going to happen. I find it funny... I’m not disappointed by it.”

Two tourists from the UK – Andrew and Paula – thought it was somewhat ‘disappointing’.

“It is odd, everywhere you go around the White House there is fencing. The arena - it just feels very bizarre, I would say,” said Paula.

The White House framed this event differently today.

“The White House is the people's house. It belongs to the people, the United States,” said US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.

"For them to be able to see this event with their White House in the background, as part of our celebration as a country and our 250 years, I think, as a gift to the American people. That's what Sunday is about. It's a gift to the American people.”

Whatever people may think, this event is taking place on Monday, New Zealand time.

One group tried (and failed) to sue to stop it, alleging – among other things – that government property was being used to enrich private organisations and individuals.

It will certainly be a day that will go down in the history books.