THE UFC staging “Freedom 250” on the South Lawn of the White House in June led to losses of around $30 million (approximately £22m), the company’s owners announced today.

US President Donald Trump, a long-time fan of the UFC, and Vice-President JD Vance were in attendance for the event which marked celebrations of 250 years of US independence.

A purpose-built structure was constructed, holding about 4,300 seats, with none available to the public. Invitation-only tickets were reserved for political allies, financial sponsors and members of the military.

Gate revenue contributes substantially to the earnings of an event and an estimated $60m US (£44m) was spent on production and overall costs, which the UFC was unable to recoup via sponsorships.

Parent company TKO Group Holdings saw an increase in revenue for the second quarter of 2026 but their financial results said a decrease in profit margin “was entirely due to the financial profile of the UFC Freedom 250 event. Absent Freedom 250, margins would have increased year-over-year.”

The headliner for the UFC lightweight title saw the US’s Justin Gaethje produce a stunning upset to dethrone Spain’s Ilia Topuria.