The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event at the White House is currently in progress, following lightning strikes across the evening sky as the initial two competitors stepped into the ring.
This championship, the first-ever professional sports event to take place at the presidential residence, faced threats from thunderstorms throughout the day—but proceeded despite early postponements.
It kicked off with U.S. President Donald Trump walking from the White House to the arena alongside Dana White, the UFC chief executive. Military aircraft then performed a flyover.
Approximately 4,300 people were anticipated at the invitation-only mixed martial arts gathering on the South Lawn, with an additional 85,000 expected at a nearby fan zone.
A weather forecast featuring air thickening to humidity levels above 70%, temperatures hovering around 80F (27C), and winds gusting through the area led to a one-hour delay in the action. Its original start time was set for 20:00 EDT (midnight GMT, 01:00 BST).
The event coincides with President Donald Trump's 80th birthday, which also falls on Flag Day, and is part of celebrations for America's 250th anniversary. The crowd sang happy birthday to the president.
The seven-bout card was organized between Trump and his longtime friend Dana White, the UFC president.
Trump was seated directly next to the Octagon, near White and several members of the Trump family. Both of his sons were in attendance. Other administration figures present included FBI Director Kash Patel, who cheered loudly from his seat.
The fighters were escorted onto the stage by Medal of Honor recipients—the highest award for battlefield actions—and first responders.
Some competitors acknowledged the venue's uniqueness from the stage.
"This is incredible," said Brazilian fighter Diego Lopes, the first man to secure a win on the lawn.
The UFC spent around $60m (£45m) on the event, including $700,000 for grass repairs afterward on a lawn that hosts the annual Easter Egg Roll.
The centerpiece is the "Claw"—a 92ft high metal structure that looms over the octagon and many of the seats. It weighs 600 tonnes.
'Greatest show on Earth', Trump says
A total of 14 fighters are competing in consecutive bouts, culminating in the main card between Georgian-Spanish lightweight Ilia Topuria and American Justin Gaethje.
It is being broadcast exclusively on Paramount+, which is run by Trump ally David Ellison. Last year, UFC signed a $7.7bn deal with the Netflix rival streaming service.
The ultimate winner may be UFC—securing a spot at the White House provides a fist-pumping brand boost for a sport once shunned by sponsors and venues and denounced as "human cockfighting" by a U.S. senator.
Administration officials—including Trump—have repeatedly praised the event, with the president referring to it as "the greatest show on Earth" and comparing the Claw to the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week lauded the UFC as the "definition of American soft diplomatic power" and announced the launch of a private-public partnership to use the UFC as a diplomatic tool.
Lawsuit sought to get the fight cancelled
Just days before the fight, a lawsuit was filed on behalf of two Virginia residents—a Vietnam veteran and a local civic activist—to try to halt the event.
The legal action, filed by the Public Integrity Project, a self-described anti-corruption law firm in Washington, argued the event was "deeply corrupt."
It cited a lack of approvals for the weigh-in at the nearby Lincoln Memorial and President Trump's close personal and financial ties with Dana White and the UFC.
But on Friday, a judge denied an emergency injunction to stop the fight—a ruling welcomed by the White House, which described the lawsuit as "frivolous."
Americans aren't thrilled about UFC fight
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Friday, however, suggested many Americans were skeptical of the event.
The survey found that only 16% of Americans believed it appropriate to hold the UFC fight at the White House, compared to 46% who thought it inappropriate.
Only about a third of Republicans approved of the plan.
The UFC fight is one of several marquee events planned to mark the 250th anniversary of the country, which will also include an IndyCar race around the National Mall later this summer and a "Great American State Fair" in July.
Weather threatened the event
It was a hot and humid day on Sunday in the nation's capital, with mid-afternoon temperatures peaking at around 91F (33C), according to forecasts.
As the heat and humidity builds, scattered thunderstorms were expected to develop into the evening, with the risk of lightning, downpours, and wind gusts of over 50mph (80km).
The summer humidity in Washington often attracts an unpleasant number of insects, and The Weather Channel is reporting that swarms of mosquitoes and gnats may find their way into the cage.
It also said that a single lightning strike within eight miles of the fight could trigger a 30-minute freeze on the event.
A news conference for the event at the Lincoln Memorial on Friday was briefly delayed over "inclement weather," and fans were urged to seek shelter.