US President Donald Trump has said that apreviously announcedUltimate Fighting Championship eventat the White Housewilltake placeon June 14 next year, which will be the president's 80th birthday.
Hemade the announcement during a speech at Naval Station Norfolk tomark the upcoming 250th anniversary of the US Navy.
Trump in July had announced that aUFCevent would take place at the White House in 2026, but did not give a date.
He countsUFCPresident Dana White as a close friend and considers fans of the sport part of his political base, although their ties long predate Trump's presidency.
White this week told the Sports Business Journal that theUFCwill spend $700,000 to replace the South Lawn grass at the White House after the event.
Since becoming president,Trump has been a regular attendee atUFCfights, most recently attending one in New Jersey in June.
Butthe relationship between Trump and White goes back to 2000, when the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City was one of the few US venues willing to hostUFCevents at the time.
TKO Group Holdings, the parent company ofUFC, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.