UFC Freedom 250 press conference LIVE: Lincoln Memorial to host first event of controversial White House fight weekend

That’s because on Sunday, it will be all cheers and no jeers.

The event, supposedly a celebration of 250 years of the United States (but taking place on Trump’s 80th birthday), will be remarkable, for better or worse.

More on Trump’s relationship with sports events:

Mr Trump’s close friend Dana White, the UFC’s president and CEO, has said that TV-production awards should be abolished altogether if this event wins none.

It’s hyperbole, of course, to which White is more than prone, but it’s also curious because of how starkly it stands in contrast to the UFC’s weekly product.

Over the last couple of years, the UFC has come under increasing criticism for its output. A peak has passed, it feels. Fans have complained about what they deem weaker fight cards with fewer consequential bouts; events playing out in the small and soulless UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas; and the UFC’s seemingly-lacking promotional efforts.

On Saturday, a fan festival will play out at the Ellipse, a large park located next to the White House. That will begin at 12.30pm PT / 2.30pm CT / 3.30pm ET (8.30pm BST).

Thereafter, the ceremonial weigh-in for the fight card will get started at 5.30pm PT / 7.30pm CT / 8.30pm ET (1.30am BST on Sunday), followed by a concert from the Zac Brown Band at 6.30pm PT / 8.30pm CT / 9.30pm ET (2.30am BST on Sunday).

Finally, the fight card itself will take place on Sunday 14 June, beginning at 5pm PT / 7pm CT / 8pm ET (1am BST on Monday).

More recently, Topuria took exception to another comment about family – this time, one directed at his own.

“All that guy is, is a gimmick,” Justin Gaethje said recently. “He calls himself the king, he thinks he’s a God. What an annoying little b*****d. I couldn’t imagine being in a room with him for 30 minutes, listening to him talk about himself.

“And I can say this: I would leave him. That’s all I’m saying: I would leave him. No way I would put up with his s***.”

Ahead of his fight with Gaethje on Sunday, Topuria replied: “Justin crossed a line. What happened between my ex-wife and me is our business. We may no longer be together, but she is the mother of my daughter.

“To everyone insulting her or speaking about things they know nothing about: show some respect. You don’t have to respect our relationship. But respecting someone’s mother should be one of the most basic codes in life. Be better.”

Gaethje responded, and Topuria did the same in turn… More here:

Hokit is due to face Derrick Lewis on Sunday, but in a stunnig tirade, the heavyweight took aim at Alex Pereira, who will vie for the division’s interim title on Sunday.

When Hokit referenced family, Topuria was irate – and the much-smaller man hurled a water bottle at the American, before security intervened.

It should be said that Hokit, who often speaks in rhyme, seems to be putting on a WWE-style persona. Still, that doesn’t mean you can say whatever you like, free of consequence, I suppose!

We’re expecting UFC president Dana White to host tonight’s press conference, although that duty could be taken on by commentator Jon Anik.

Either way, every UFC White House fighter should be present.

Here’s how Sunday’s event looks (subject to change; ‘C’ denotes champion):

Ilia Topuria (C) vs Justin Gaethje (lightweight title)

Alex Pereira vs Ciryl Gane (interim heavyweight title)

Sean O’Malley vs Aiemann Zahabi (bantamweight)

Derrick Lewis vs Josh Hokit (heavyweight)

Mauricio Ruffy vs Michael Chandler (lightweight)

Bo Nickal vs Kyle Daukaus (middleweight)

Diego Lopes vs Steve Garcia (featherweight)

Let’s see if Trump turns up tonight; one thing is for sure, the US President won’t be at his nation’s opening World Cup game.

USA play Paraguay at 9pm ET tonight / 2am BST on Saturday, with the game playing out at Los Angeles Stadium – but without the Leader of the Free World in attendance.

The fights themselves have not proven the only controversial part of this week.

Lincoln Memorial visitors were met with temporary fencing, stage lights, large monitors and crews preparing to turn the historic location into a UFC press conference site.

The National Mall was bustling with busy crews moving equipment that slightly obstructed the view of the Reflecting Pool from the top of the Lincoln Memorial stairs this week, according to photos posted online Tuesday evening.

“It’s awful,” Trudy Rumbaugh, a visitor from Vermont, told DC News Now. “It detracts from the beauty of the monuments. And it’s obstructive.”

The big news of the day is that, as Alex Woodward writes, “the fights are on”.

A federal judge has rejected an attempt to block this weekends bouts from taking place, after a lawsuit accused the administration of a “deeply corrupt” scheme to line the pockets of his allies.

A last-minute federal lawsuit accused the Trump administration of giving the UFC “unfettered access” to turn public landmarks into profitable billboards.

UFC has committed $60m to the event, according to court filings. The event is expected to draw multi-million dollar sponsorships as well as revenue through a broadcast agreement with Paramount +, a streaming platform operated by Trump allies.

White House officials say the UFC is covering costs for the unprecedented production, but several federal agencies have “allocated significant resources and manpower”.

The UFC has said tonight’s press conference will begin at 8.15pm ET, which is 1.15am BST on Saturday morning.

Saturday evening will then bring the ceremonial weigh-ins, also at the Lincoln Memorial, before the fights themselves take place on the South Lawn on Sunday.