Trump Eyes "UFC 1776" Rebrand For White House Card

President Donald Trump signaled his strong support for rebranding the "Freedom 250" event to "UFC 1776," tying the fight card directly to the anniversary of American independence. 

When a reporter floated the "UFC 1776" moniker, Trump was immediately receptive: "That’s a good idea. I’ll tell that to Dana White. I will say, I’ve been involved with a lot of big events but I’ve never had an event that has had more interest than the UFC that we have right on our front door," Trump said

Trump’s comments also included an expanded multi-tiered viewing experience for fans.

Trump’s Plan

• The Arena: A specialized 4,500-seat outdoor stadium will be constructed in immediate proximity to the Octagon on the White House grounds, reserved for dignitaries, veterans, and special guests.
• The "Ellipse" Fan Zone: To accommodate the public, the President announced that The Ellipse (the park south of the White House fence) will be transformed into a massive fan festival. Organizers are preparing for a crowd of 50,000 to 100,000 people to watch the action via digital screens.

"They’re going to start building about a 4,500-seat arena and then at the back at the Ellipse we’re going to have maybe about 50-100,000 people I guess," Trump stated

The President also influenced the fight card’s lineup following UFC 327 in Miami. After watching Josh Hokit’s impressive victory over Curtis Blaydes on Saturday, Trump reportedly questioned Dana White on why heavy-hitter Derrick Lewis was missing from the Washington D.C. billing. Acting on the President’s inquiry, White finalized Lewis vs. Hokit in record time, adding it to the historical card.

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