'Put UFC on the map': Fans defend fight night staged in front of White House

Mixed martial arts fighters made their entrance at the Lincoln Memorial on Monday, jogging down the steps to the cheers of thousands of fans gathered for an unusual sporting spectacle. The event, marking the nation's 250th anniversary and President Donald Trump's 80th birthday, features fighters preparing for bouts outside the White House.

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You will hear an eagle screaming when Justin Gaethje wins.

Fans, including Tracy Philbeck and his son Levi, who traveled from Charlotte, North Carolina, expressed their enthusiasm. Philbeck believes President Trump has been instrumental in elevating the UFC's profile, stating, "Trump... put UFC on the map." The UFC has invested $60 million in the weekend's festivities, which the president has promoted as "the greatest show on earth."

However, the event has not been without controversy. The Public Integrity Project filed a lawsuit, describing the use of national monuments for a commercial event as a "private, commercial, corrupt use of our most sacred national monuments for private gain." Despite this, a federal judge ruled on Friday that the event could proceed.

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Trump, who regularly attends the fights, 'put UFC on the map'.

Public opinion on MMA fans is varied. Polling suggests that only about one in 10 U.S. adults follow the sport, with fans tending to be male, non-white, and more likely to identify as Republican. Ricardo Rodriguez, 24, noted that not all UFC fans support Trump, emphasizing his personal appreciation for the sport's physicality. Ellie Louizes, who practices Muay Thai and jujitsu, drove from Florida and observed that female fighters often display more aggression than their male counterparts, a sentiment shared by many female fans who are drawn into the sport through male partners.

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The Public Integrity Project described the event as a 'private, commercial, corrupt use of our most sacred national monuments for private gain'.

Fans at the Lincoln Memorial largely dismissed the criticism regarding the event's location. Tracy Philbeck defended the choice, suggesting that holding fights at the "People's House" echoes historical precedents, referencing Teddy Roosevelt's regular sparring sessions at the White House.

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One misconception is that everyone who watches UFC is a Trump supporter, but that's not the case.