Trumps White House UFC spectacle: Blood, profanity and military pomp

WASHINGTON – Heavyweight Josh Hokit had just won a heavyweight UFC match by technical knockout in a cage on the White House lawn, in a controversial spectacle hosted by President Donald Trump as part of the nation's 250th birthday celebrations.

“Shout out to Trump for having the balls to put some s— like this on,†Hokit shouted as the crowd roared. Then he took aim at a former first lady: “Michelle Obama is a man! Am I right, America?â€

UFC Freedom 250, the biggest stage in the history of mixed martial arts, lived up to the hype. For over four hours, fighters put their combat skills on display in a loud, lavish and bloody way never before seen on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Arizona's own Justin Gaethje gave the undefeated lightweight Ilia Topuria a beating severe enough that a doctor nearly put a stop to it, capping Trump's gladiator-esque 80th birthday party with a storybook ending for fans of the sport. 

A flyover by the Navy Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds, delayed by rain, signaling the start of the event flew over the towering “claw,†installed on the South Lawn to light the octagonal ring.

An Air Force B-1 bomber shook downtown D.C. around 11:30 p.m. with a low altitude pass over the White House. Fireworks were still going off two hours later. 

The military presence was heavy. 

Thousands of tickets went to uniformed personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines who had to pay their own way to the capital and were only allowed in if they met stringent fitness standards.

Fighters were escorted to the ring from the Oval Office by “American heroes.â€

SWAT team members and other first responders flanked them on one side.

On the other were service members such as Army Staff Sgt. Ty Carter, who was awarded a Medal of Honor for valor in Afghanistan in 2009 and acknowledged that the UFC event was out of the ordinary.

“I don't understand what normal is supposed to be anymore,†Carter said Monday via email. “Receiving the Medal Of Honor has made experiences like this a normal thing. How many times do you have to experience a ‘once in a lifetime event' to make things normal?â€

As for whether he thought twice about participating in the White House event, Carter said, “No, I was not hesitant. The USO has provided morale and entertainment for our service members since it was established. It is nice that the White House is finally stepping up again.â€

UFC CEO Dana White condemned Hokit's attack on Michelle Obama. Trump and the White House did not.

White described the event as historic for the sport. 

The only way to watch was on Paramount+. Viewership figures may not be available for at least a month. 

For fans who tuned in, there was plenty of excitement.

Gaethje did the unthinkable. At 37 years old, after a long career in which he came close but never touched undisputed gold, “The Highlight†overcame 6:1 odds to defeat Topuria, considered by many UFC fans to be the scariest man in the lightweight division.

Gaethje didn't just beat the most dominant fighter in the division; he completely broke him. 

At one point, a doctor's stoppage seemed imminent as the event medical staff checked out Topuria's disfigured face. A rain of boos came from the crowd and Topuria begged the doctor not to stop it. The doctor gave in to the pleas and allowed the fight to continue.

Although the District of Columbia Combat Sports Commission would ordinarily have jurisdiction, the UFC bypassed the commission, asserting that was an option because the fight was on federal land. Instead, the Association of Boxing Commissions sanctioned the bouts.

Ultimately, Topuria's corner threw in the towel after the fourth round. He walked away from the cage and onto the White House lawn badly bloodied and unrecognizable. 

He tried to cover his face with a shirt as he was escorted away. 

Sean “Suga†O'Malley was another familiar face for Arizona fight fans who shone on the world stage.

Fighting out of the Valley of the Sun, O'Malley did what he does best and produced yet another knockout highlight to add to his extensive portfolio. The 31-year-old former bantamweight champion splits his training time between gyms in Glendale and Peoria.

He coaches from the corner of Alex “The Most Educated†Preissing, an Arizona State University law school graduate who practices law and is training to be a professional MMA fighter.

O'Malley, in his typical fighting fashion, looked as calm as one can be in a cage match. He picked his shots carefully, striking with deadly precision and finishing Canadian Aiemann Zahabi late in the second round via technical knockout.

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