The UFC Freedom 250 gala on Monday night, local time in Sweden, will be the main event for Donald Trump's birthday celebration. An entire arena with stands has been built in front of the White House in Washington.
This is something that no one else has done, or even thought of doing. And I think he's going for it. It has a signal value in itself, says Andreas Utterström, who is also a big UFC fan.
“Salesperson and entertainer”
The gala has drawn strong criticism from several quarters who believe it is tasteless to hold martial arts matches outside the White House. As recently as Friday, a judge in Washington dismissed a lawsuit filed by activists who wanted to stop the gala, arguing that it would be illegal to hold a for-profit event at the venue.
Utterström believes that as he approaches the end of his presidential term, Trump cares less and less about what others think.
Basically, he is a salesman and an entertainer. And what is more entertaining than building an octagon on the lawn outside the White House? It's actually completely absurd! Not even I, who love both MMA and American politics, would have dared to hope for something like this, Utterström says, laughing.
Macho culture
Trump has long allied himself with mixed martial arts (MMA), a sport in which two fighters compete in a ring - an octagon - in a combination of wrestling and Thai boxing. The UFC, which organizes the big fights, is very popular among young men who form a core of Trump's voter base.
Trump has always liked controversial spectacles and there is a fairly clear macho culture in the MAGA movement, Utterström says.
As a UFC fan, Utterström believes that the gala can also be good from a sporting perspective.
It's not the best lineup they've had, but there are still good and exciting matches. Although in this case the fights come second, just seeing matches with the White House as a backdrop will be a historic event.
Utterström believes that Trump wants a special gift on his big day.
I think Trump dreams of timing a peace deal with Iran so he can talk about it in the Octagon. It would be a perfect setting with all the fighters as props. What could be more Trump than that?
