UFC owners lose $30m (£22m) staging the Freedom 250 event, which was attended by US President Donald Trump, at the White House in June.

US President Donald Trump (pictured with UFC president Dana White) met with fighters inside the Oval Office at the White House before the event UFC owners lost $30m (£22m) staging the Freedom 250 event, which was attended by US President Donald Trump, at the White House in June. Despite the one-off event's losses, which UFC expected, the organisation still saw an increase of revenue for the second quarter of 2026, parent company TKO Group Holdings said on Monday. An estimated 4,300 people including president Trump and Vice-President JD Vance were present for the invite-only event on the South Lawn of the presidential compound, which formed part of celebrations to mark 250 years of American independence. Tickets were not sold to the general public for the event, and initial costs were predicted to be more than $60m (£44m). However, UFC was able to recoup some money through sponsorships, media exposure and other partnerships. In May, reports suggested 'high-roller' guests would need to spend $1.5m (£1.1m) for special access, and while UFC sources confirmed to BBC Sport the existence of such packages for the event, they did not confirm how much they cost. Trump has a long-standing friendship with UFC president Dana White and the event coincided with his 80th birthday.