Just a day after UFC 320: Ankalaev vs. Pereira 2 concluded, President Trump made it official: a mixed martial arts event under the UFC’s auspices will take place at his official residence, the White House, on June 14, 2026. The show will coincide with his 80th birthday. Reportedly, UFC White House aims to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary. Needless to say, it has sparked a frenzy, with the names of many well-known figures doing the rounds. They include stars Jon Jones and Conor McGregor. As of now, the list of fixtures has yet to be finalized.

While speculation over the card continues to swirl, another matter of concern seems to be inching toward the center: money.  A star-studded lineup, fighting in front of VVIPs and A-listers at one of the country’s, and perhaps the world’s, most recognizable residences, spells money. In a recent interview, Dana White speculated that the cost to replace the White House lawn alone would lighten his wallet by $700,000. So how exactly is the UFC going to bear the brunt of a hefty check that will likely burn a hole in its pocket? As he weighed in on the issue, noted MMA analyst Luke Thomas zeroed in on a few options.

UFC’s way out might be closer than you think

One possibility, Thomas noted, is that the UFC could tap into the America 250 fund to help pay for the White House event. For the unversed, they are federal funds allocated for July 4th celebrations or related events. “Even though this is happening a month, or I should say two or three weeks anyway, prior to July 4th, it would still gonna be part of potentially this America 250 fund as a way to essentially write off the costs of staging the event to the taxpayer,” Luke Thomas said. And that’s not the only option.

He recalled last year’s UFC Sphere, where UFC 306: O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili, or more popularly UFC Noche, took place. To handle the rising budget, the UFC solved the cost issue by selling sponsorship rights to Riyadh Season. “They sold a sponsorship to Saudi Arabia on it as a way to help defray some of the costs,” Thomas said on The Luke Thomas Live Chat.

Covering UFC White House on his podcast, Luke Thomas read an email from a follower who sought his view on a potential lineup. It comprised Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes, Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira, and finally Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler. Thomas liked the idea. He even suggested one matchup of his own – Ronda Rousey vs. Miesha Tate 3. Or perhaps a rematch between Rousey and Holly Holm.

He liked the concept: the lineup maximizes star power without disrupting the championship schedule.

Financing glory at the White House

Still, the cost of such a high-powered card perplexed him.  “I mean, the cost of a card like that—if you had to put Jones and McGregor on it, I don’t know how they’re gonna work out these new deals.” Thomas said. The financial logistics are tricky. Especially without a pay-per-view revenue stream, which is usually how the UFC offsets big fighter payouts.

Jones might not be $30 million pricey like McGregor. But he’s still significantly more expensive than most other fighters.  “I just don’t know how the UFC wants to pay, like… How they want to manage the rest of the calendar and how they want to pay for it—these are pretty big considerations,” he added.

Luke Thomas closed by noting that it was still too early to know how the finances for UFC White House would eventually pan out. As the months pass, the hype surrounding the White House event will likely grow. Fans should stay tuned as more developments emerge.

What’s your take on the MMA analyst’s views?