Trump to host UFC octagon cage fight on White House lawn to mark 250 years of US independence

US President Donald Trump is pressing on with plans to host a UFC cage fight on the White House’s South Lawn next year.

Trump first teased the mixed martial arts (MMA) event in July, saying that he wanted more than 20,000 fans to attend as part of his country’s celebrations to mark 250 years since independence.

Recent US media reports suggest that the fight is now being planned for June, as the anniversary schedule in July is already too packed.

In late August, Dana White, the CEO of UFC who is an old friend of Trump, met the president at the White House.

After their discussions, White took to Instagram, where he declared in a live video that the fight would definitely happen. “We got it done today,” he said.

US media outlets claimed that the UFC fight, which the president’s daughter Ivanka -- who is said to be a fan -- is believed to be helping to organise, will involve fighter weigh-ins at the Lincoln Memorial and is expected to involve the usual choreography, including lasers, fireworks and an octagon ring.

“This will be one of the greatest and most historic sports events in history, and President Trump hosting it at the White House is a testament to his vision to celebrate America’s monumental 250th anniversary,” Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung told the WSJ.

Trump has known White for decades, after the now president hosted mixed martial arts events at a hotel he owned in Atlantic City in the early 2000s.

As well as being a regular on the golf course, it is not uncommon for the 79-year-old Republican to attend important sports matches, such as the Super Bowl and the US Open men's final on Sunday.

Although sports events at the White House are uncommon, they are not unprecedented.

Warren G Harding hosted tennis matches during his presidency in the 1920s. Decades later, George W Bush hosted teeball — simplified baseball — matches, while Barack Obama invited people to play basketball.