Donald Trump turns 80 this Sunday, June 14, and he does so true to his style. The president of the United States has built in the White House The Clawa gigantic ring installed in the gardens of the presidential residence to house a historic evening of mixed martial arts.
Installed in the South Garden, the octagon where the fights will take place is covered by a huge metal structure almost thirty meters high, hence the nickname “The Claw.”
The structure, equipped with powerful spotlights in the colors of the American flag, allows clear visibility of the south porch of the presidential residence.
The ring is surrounded by stands to accommodate between 4,000 and 5,000 guests, including Trump himself, who will sit in the front row, in addition to approximately five hundred portable toilets. A Fan Zone will be installed outside the White House so that thousands of other fans can watch the fight on giant screens.
The Clawwhich weighs about seven hundred tonswas built by Belgian event planning company Stageco and was initially designed for a music festival in the Netherlands.
An unprecedented event
Throughout its history, such as concerts and ceremonies, but never before had a similar structure been built nor had a mixed martial arts combat been held, a discipline that mixes boxing, jiu-jitsuwrestling and other techniques.
The event will cost about sixty million dollars and is organized by the UFC league, whose president, Dana White, has maintained a close relationship for decades with Trump, who in the past had businesses in boxing and wrestling. In fact, he has always been against outdoor combat, but on this occasion, he deserved to turn a blind eye.
The fight has been named UFC Freedom 250 Because it is part of the celebrations to coincide with Trump’s 80th birthday, it is not a coincidence. Last year, when he turned 79, he organized a military parade in the capital.
The main event of the night will pit UFC lightweight champion and undefeated in his career against American Justin Gaethje.
“It fills me with pride to be part of an event that will not only be one of the biggest in the history of the UFC, but in sport in general,” Topuria, 29, said at a press conference on Wednesday.
