On the broadcast, the White House backdrop and the lighting and the fireworks all played well. Heavyweight Josh Hokit’s insult of Michelle Obama, aired worldwide and in front of the President, sitting cageside, after his victory was a low point. White condemned Hokit’s behavior later on. But in the main event, American Justin Gaethje upset Ilia Topuria, who represents Georgia, in a four-round classic, capping off the evening on a high note. In his last couple of years in office, Trump might be tempted to make this an annual thing. But the UFC, which constructed a temporary 4,300-seat fight facility on the President’s lawn, is forecasting a $30 million loss on the event. White was adamant: this was it. A one-time night. Photographer Robert LeBlance was cageside to capture the scene.
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