Dana White says an unexpected bug problem at the White House could create real issues for fighters competing at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14, and he is already working on solutions.
White visited the White House recently when President Trump invited him to dinner at the newly opened Rose Garden, and the gnat situation he encountered immediately triggered concern about the outdoor event.
Speaking to Boardroom, White described what he saw.
“Another problem that I always think about, especially on the East coast: bugs. So President Trump just opened The Rose Garden two nights ago. He invited me to dinner there. The amount of gnats that are flying around, I’m like, ‘Holy sh*t.’ As soon as I got on the plane, I got on the phone with my head of production and said, ‘Yeah, let me tell you about the gnat situation tonight.’ When you’re a fighter, think about that lighting grid and the claw we’re going to have and the amount of power in the lights. Moths, gnats, and God knows what else, fighters trying to deal with that.”
White reached out to UFC executive producer Craig Borsari immediately and has already begun brainstorming possible fixes.
“In your mouth, in your nose while you’re trying to fight. I was telling Craig, my head of production, I’m like, ‘Maybe we put fans in, because gnats have a bad time in the wind.’ I don’t know. These are all the little details we have to think about. That’s why I don’t like fighting outside ever.”
UFC Freedom 250 takes place on the South Lawn of the White House with approximately 4,000 attendees expected. The card is headlined by Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje in a lightweight title unification bout.