UFC Freedom 250 is approaching, but Pentagon officials have reportedly indicated that only a limited group of US military personnel will be eligible for complimentary tickets.
The promotion is scheduled to stage an outdoor event on the South Lawn of the White House on June 14, as part of the wider celebrations marking the United States’ 250th birthday.
The lineup is set to be led by Georgia’s Ilia Topuria against two-time UFC interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. Elsewhere on the bill, Brazil’s Alex Pereira is due to meet France’s Ciryl Gane, while Montana’s Sean O’Malley is slated to kick off the night versus Canada’s Aiemann Zahabi.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has already criticised the construction work underway on the White House grounds, with TKO — the UFC’s parent company — alleged to have spent $60 million preparing the site.
According to Forbes, tickets will not be available for general sale, meaning dedicated fight fans will only be able to attend if they’re active-duty service members or have ties to the White House, TKO, or UFC.
UFC CEO Dana White has also reportedly invited a number of celebrities to sit cageside.
CNN has said Pentagon officials were assembling “lists” of specific service members expected to receive free tickets for what’s being billed as a headline outdoor sports event.
The Military Times reported that about 1,200 of the roughly 4,300 seats on the White House lawn are expected to be allocated to active military personnel.
While the tickets themselves would be free, reports add that service members traveling from outside Washington, DC, would have to “pay their own way”.
It’s also been claimed that priority will go to junior enlisted troops and junior officers who are described as “genuine UFC fans”.
Per CNN sources, including military memos, the complimentary tickets would only be issued to service members who meet “new military body composition standards”.
The report added that anyone seeking access to UFC Freedom 250 would need to meet Department of War (DOW) standards related to a waist-to-height ratio, said to be “less than 0.55”.
In practical terms, that ratio would require a person’s waist measurement to be 55 percent or less of their overall height.
Using the figures cited, a male service member standing 5ft 9in (175.25cm) would only be eligible to attend if their waist is 37 inches or less.
For a female service member at 5ft 4in (162.56cm), the reported “maximum waist size” is 35 inches or less, according to the broadcaster.
One defence official reportedly said the guidance would send a “very clear mesage” to those hoping to attend.
“Quote: ‘no fatties’,” the CNN broadcaster stated. “Another defense official said that senior Pentagon leaders are signalling their preference for military members who will look good on camera.
“No fat soldiers would be admitted to this event and that’s controversial.”
On The Source , Scott Jennings — described as a loyal Trump defender — said a White House representative told him the reported “no fatties” rule was not true.
“I asked the White House point blank, is this true? And I was told, quote, ‘Fake news from The Washington Post,’” he told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins.
He went on to dispute the reporting even as Collins read from a notice that said potential attendees must meet a “waist-to-height ratio standard of less than 0.55, as well as all service-specific physical fitness test requirements”.
In a statement to The Daily Beast, a White House spokesperson said: “This will be one of the greatest and most historic sports events in history, and President Trump hosting it at the White House is a testament to his vision to celebrate America’s monumental 250th anniversary.”
The White House has been contacted for comment.