The UFC’s highly anticipated event at the White House in June 2026 is shaping up to be unlike any card the promotion has ever attempted. But amid intensifying hype and high-profile speculation, UFC CEO Dana White has revealed the operation is being plagued by what he bluntly called an “ugly” budget issue.
The historic event is set to break all sorts of records, and the top 20 UK betting sites will be offering special sign-up offers and boosted odds for the blockbuster card.
“The budget is ugly”
White admitted during an appearance on The Jim Rome Show that the event’s costs have spiralled. “You know what I’m battling right now is the budget for the White House card,” White told Jim Rome. “The budget is ugly. So we’re dealing with the budget right now.”
It’s been reported that the cost of replacing the South Lawn turf alone will cost in excess of $700,000 as well as several millions being spent on the dome-style lighting rig and broadcast infrastructure.
The UFC White House event will also have fewer than 5,000 seats, many of which will be handed to foreign dignitaries and other ultra VIPs, making White’s job of recouping the overall cost even tougher.
Why the UFC White House card is different
What sets this event apart from a typical numbered UFC card is the scale and setting. While the promotion’s record-setting card at the Sphere in Las Vegas grossed more than US$22 million from gate receipts, that was with 16,000+ fans in attendance.
But with fewer than 5,000 in attendance at the White House, revenue generation will lean heavily on broadcast, sponsorship, and premium access rather than ticket volume.
A host of fighters have already been making their pitch to feature on the historic card to White, but the UFC CEO is refusing to commit to anybody just yet.
“I won’t even start talking about guys fighting until February,” White added. “I mean, we’re still — I’m in the War Room right now, the board is still packed with tons of great fights that have to play out until we have to start talking about the White House card.”
When is UFC White House
US President Donald Trump announced plans for the White House to host a UFC event in 2026 earlier this year as part of events to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary of independence.
Trump has been a close confidante to White over the past few decades, dating back to the early days of the sport when the now US president hosted a UFC event at the Trump Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City.
The UFC has yet to confirm a date for the UFC White House event, but Trump has claimed it will take place on his 80th birthday.
“On June 14, next year, we’re going to have a big UFC fight at the White House, right at the White House grounds,” Trump said.
Who Will Fight On The UFC White House card?
As the historic event draws closer, more fighters will be pushing to get on the blockbuster card. White is still keeping his cards close to his chest, stating, “tons of great fights that have to play out until we have to start talking about the White House card”.
The likes of Jon Jones, Alex Pereira, Conor McGregor and Bo Nickal have all thrown their hats into the ring, but Francis Ngannou feels the event can’t take place without him.
“You know the answer… Biggest fight of all-time can only happen with Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou,” Ngannou told TMZ. “No disrespect to other fighters… If you want to say biggest of all-time, you make it biggest.”
Conclusion
The UFC’s White House event promised spectacle, global attention and a marker of the sport’s growth. But as Dana White candidly acknowledges, behind the scenes, it’s grappling with an “ugly” budget defect that could influence how the promotion structures future landmark events.
For followers of the sport — whether purely for competition, media trend analysis or betting insight — this card will mark a pivotal moment for the UFC’s global ambitions.
