A UFC fight arena has been built on the White House South Lawn in Washington DC, USA, ahead of an event planned for Monday. The event is being held to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. It has caused strong debate because the White House is an important government building and the event is also close to Donald Trump’s birthday.
Journalist Logan Church visited the arena after travelling with other reporters through security checks. He described the structure as huge, with grandstands, screens, lights, cameras and a fighting arena close to the White House. Around 4,000 people are expected to be able to sit and watch the event. Some members of the public said they thought the arena looked wasteful and unsuitable for such a serious place.
Others were more excited and said they had never expected to see a fight on the White House lawn. Some fighters said the event should be seen as a major moment for mixed martial arts, rather than only as a political issue. Fighter Michael Chandler said fans should celebrate the chance for the sport to appear on such a large platform. Fighter Steve Garcia said he hoped people could come together and enjoy the fights for a few hours.
The White House said the event was a gift to the American people and part of the country’s anniversary celebrations.
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