UFC White House event to be staged at Lincoln Memorial as images released
View 3 ImagesConstruction for another UFC event has begun at the Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial is set to become the latest high-profile location to feature on the UFC White House schedule.
Images released on Tuesday show a major construction operation underway at the historic monument, where it has long been suggested that weigh-ins for UFC Freedom 250 - set to take place on Sunday, June 14 - will be held.
Over the past two weeks, production has begun for the unique, one-off event on the South Lawn of the White House, which has been completely transformed following the erection of a 4,300-capacity custom-built arena.
Article continues belowWith the UFC White House event now just a matter of days away, preparations for the rest of the fight week events are fully underway, as thousands of people prepare to descend on the capital. It comes as Kai Trump's telling reaction to grandfather Donald being booed was exposed.
The festivities get underway with the UFC Freedom 250 media day on Wednesday (Jun. 10), when all 14 fighters on the card will meet with the media at a host hotel to field questions about their upcoming bouts, according to MMA Junkie.
The official UFC Freedom 250 press conference will then take place at the Lincoln Memorial on Friday evening (8 p.m. ET), per the report, where a stage will be set up in front of the iconic landmark for all 14 fighters, as well as UFC CEO Dana White, to take questions and have face-offs with one another.
View 3 ImagesWorkers build staging in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., ahead of a scheduled UFC White House press conference on Friday
It was initially thought this was where and when the official weigh-ins would take place, but they are now believed to be held in front of the media on Saturday morning, before the ceremonial weigh-ins take place inside the fan park on The Ellipse later in the evening.
Nonetheless, the wheels are now firmly in motion for the construction of the press conference stage at the Lincoln Memorial, with the first images showing fencing all around the perimeter, blocking off access to all the props and construction inside.
In what already appears to be a replica of the construction site on the South Lawn of the White House for the actual event, the Lincoln Memorial construction also appears to be of significant size.
Just as there was with the White House construction site, though, there has also been major backlash for the operation currently underway at the Lincoln Memorial.
View 3 ImagesNational Guard members have been stationed on the Lincoln Memorial throughout the construction works
Article continues below"That.. is disgusting. It's a MEMORIAL," one person posted on X. "We are living through a horror movie where an evil villain is desecrating everything sacred in our country!" wrote another.
"A memorial to one of our greatest presidents. Hallowed ground where MLK touched the soul of a nation. Now a prop for a cage fight. One will struggle to find a more vivid definition of shameful," commented a third.