Donald Trump‘s plans to host a UFC event at the White House next year have been put on blast by one current star – who said it’s feels like the ‘f***ing Hunger Games’.
Trump and UFC chief Dana White have been planning the event for some time now, with the latter insisting it will be the ‘biggest and baddest card of all time’.
The UFC have since released rendered images of how the event – set to be held on the South Lawn – will look, before Trump confirmed it will take place on June 14th.
However, as anticipations for the blockbuster event continue to grow, one current UFC fighter has hit back with an expletive-filled rant about Trump’s plans.
American star Brandon Royval told ‘In The Arena MMA’ podcast: ‘I don’t give a s*** about fighting at the f***ing White House. I wanna fight in front of big crowds.
‘I don’t give a f*** about any of our political figures right now, and to fight in front of them seems like some f***ing Hunger Games type of f***ing s***.
Donald Trump’s plans to host a UFC event at the White House have been put on blast
The UFC previously revealed renderings for the event which will take place on June 14th
UFC star Brandon Royval has spoken out about the event and likened it to the Hunger Games
‘I don’t give a f*** to fight in front of some f***ing billionaires that could give a s*** less about me. F*** you guys. I want to fight in front of people who can relate to me.’
At one UFC last year, held at Madison Square Garden, Trump was joined by Elon Musk, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and singer Kid Rock.
Since the concept first emerged, a number of the UFC’s biggest stars – like Conor McGregor and Jon Jones – have made impassioned pleas to be featured on the card.
However, for Colorado-native Royval, fears over potential ICE involvement offer another reason for him to swerve the historic event.
It was confirmed last month that ICE agents will be patrolling San Francisco during the Super Bowl in February and, given the heightened security that will be at the White House, it’s not out the question that agents could be present on fight night.
Royval, who is currently the UFC’s third-ranked flyweight contender, continued: ‘I don’t give a f*** about impressing any politicians. I don’t care about the Presidents.
‘I just don’t want to fight at the White House if I’m being honest. Also, I’m too Mexican-looking. ICE is suspiciously arresting motherf***ers, and I don’t know.
‘Who knows, next thing you know, I’m in Mexico and I don’t speak Spanish.’
Last month, the President confirmed, during a speech at Naval Station Norfolk, that the event is set to go ahead on June 14 next year – which will be his 80th birthday.
Trump pictured alongside Elon Musk and Kid Rock at UFC 309 in New York last November
The weigh-in and press conferences would take place outside the Lincoln Memorial, which is undergoing renovations for a new museum and visitors’ centre
Renders also showed what the scenes could look like as fighters make their way out
The fights themselves will take place on the South Lawn, with 5,000 seats available
Royval also spoke of his fears that ICE agents could be present at the showpiece event
He had announced in July that a UFC event would take place at the White House in 2026, but did not give a date. Early July, when America will celebrate its 250th birthday, was initially floated as a potential date.
Trump counts UFC chief Dana White as a close friend and considers fans of the sport part of his political base, although their ties long predate his presidency.
White this week told the Sports Business Journal that the UFC will spend $700k to replace the South Lawn grass at the White House after the event.
Since becoming president, Trump has been a regular attendee at UFC fights, most recently attending one in New Jersey in June.
But the relationship between him and White goes back to 2000, when the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City was one of the few US venues willing to host UFC events at the time.
Images first shared with Fox show the White House draped in red, white and blue lights, with thousands of fans situated outside and the traditional 3D UFC graphics displaced for broadcast.
A UFC octagon is situated in the middle of a makeshift arena, with the White House the picturesque backdrop.
Another snap shows the weigh-ins and press conferences, with a stage set outside the Lincoln Memorial and thousands of fans again situated outside to watch on.
Conor McGregor has previously insisted that he will make his UFC return at the White House
More images show a stunning firework display and a giant cover over the rings and fans in case of rain.
Though no officials fight announcements have been made, Conor McGregor recently claimed that he’d received a huge offer to take part in the ‘spectacle for the ages’
Since news of the spectacle broke, McGregor, who has teased a return to the Octagon for more than four years since his defeat by Dustin Poirier in July 2021, has been tipped to finally make his comeback at the event.
The Irishman has now claimed that an eye watering $100million fee and 100 of Trump’s ‘gold card visas’ – an authorisation costing $1m each which grants lawful permanent residence in the United States – has persuaded him to end his self imposed retirement.
‘$100million to fight at the White House along with 100 U.S ‘Golden Visas’ for myself and family and friends,’ McGregor wrote on X. ‘I look very forward to entertaining the fighting world once again. A pleasure I never take for granted!’
