Staring down the actual Declaration of Independence before stepping into the octagon as an underdog to beat the piss out of an undefeated fighter in front of the world is an extraordinary level of legendary

The UFC is hosting fights at the White House tonight. Here's what you need to know: 1. The UFC is spending $60 million to put on this event. That's way more than the $3-4 million the company typically spends to put on an event and three times the $20 million it spent at the Las Vegas Sphere in 2024. 2. The UFC sold $30 million in corporate sponsorship deals — Ram Trucks, Crypto(.)com, Polymarket, Bud Light — with individual packages selling for $1.5 million. 3. Since tickets are being given out for free, the event is expected to lose about $30 million. 4. The UFC's $7.7 billion media rights deal with Paramount allows some fights to be simulcast on CBS, but tonight's entire event will only be available on the Paramount streaming service. 5. There will be 4,000 people on the South Lawn for the event — Trump controls about 1,000 tickets, with Dana White and Ari Emanuel controlling another 500 or so. The remaining seats were given to active duty military members. These military members had to meet body composition standards and pay for their own travel. 6. The UFC installed a giant arch over the octagon known as the Claw. The structure is massive — 60 tons, 154 feet wide, and 92 feet high, with a 100-by-100-foot canopy and 800 lighting fixtures — and since the UFC isn't allowed to dig into the South Lawn, engineers added 40 tons of weight to each leg to hold it down. 7. The Claw was flown from Belgium to Philadelphia, test-assembled in Philly, and then trucked down to DC. Each truck was placed in storage before being searched by the Secret Service, and the UFC needed 38 days to assemble everything (compared to their normal 2 days). 8. The UFC is covering all production costs, but taxpayers are still on the hook for $10-12 million in supplemental security costs. The White House says this money would have been spent anyway and that it comes from a federal fund (approved by Congress) specifically allocated for events surrounding the country's 250th birthday. 9. Since attendance on the South Lawn is invite-only (and limited to 4,000 people), the UFC is holding a watch party at the Eliipise. Roughly 85,000 tickets have been distributed for free, and while the UFC plans to sell food, beverages, and merchandise, Dana White told ESPN that "the government will get a piece of it." 10. Every fighter will be wearing custom red, white, and blue gloves with an American flag stitched on the wrist. BONUS: Trump's latest financial disclosure indicates that he purchased up to $50,000 in TKO stock, the parent company of the UFC. Some say this is a conflict of interest, while others claim it is insignificant, given that his full financial disclosure included over 3,700 stock and bond trades worth more than $220 million. That's it for today. Enjoy the event, and if you want to learn more about the business and money behind sports, join 135,000 others who read my newsletter. Sign up: huddleup.substack.com/

DAWGS PUT ON A SHOW🤯 Ricks, Njie, Costen and Simms clock a school record of 2️⃣:5️⃣7️⃣.9️⃣3️⃣ to win the national title in the 4x400m Relay🏆 #GoDawgs x @NCAATrackField

If we didn’t know that the majority of the left are retards, Elon Musk becoming a trillionaire today has made it CRYSTAL clear. #spacex

🔥 🔥🔥PRATT!!!!🔥🔥🔥

ALL!! OF!! THIS!!!! Congrats @elonmusk!! You are amazing!! 🚀 🚀 🚀 ❤️❤️❤️🌎🌎🌎

Hey @FedExHelp your customer service is atrocious. I’ve called twice and been disconnected. Can you please help me with a package??

Monumental for them, and many will go on to invest in new ideas and businesses. What a remarkable cycle, only capable in a capitalist society.

Whooooweeeee there is some NONSENSE on X today!!!!!!! #FFS

As a huge Rafa Nadal fan, no words for how phenomenally well-done the Netflix doc is - a real look into the mindset and heart of what it takes, and takes out of you, to be a true champion in every sense of the word. He is all of it and more. HIGHLY recommend!! ❤️🎾 #RafaNetflix

WHAT A COACH! ❤️🖤#GoDawgs #HBTD #omaha

HBTD!!! 💎 ⚾️❤️🖤❤️🖤❤️ #GoDawgs OOOOOMAHA!

🤣 INCREDIBLE: Antifa’s base camp outside the Newark ICE facility got hit by 30 mph wind gusts, sending their signs and supplies flying. Even Mother Nature has had enough of their BS. 😂🌬️ @nicksortor

Everything about this is what is BEST about America 🇺🇸!! Please support Rodney @WhiteHouse @POTUS @FLOTUS @VP God Bless America ❤️🤍💙🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

❤️🖤

Omg these interviews with players during the game should not be a whole dame inning long. Even Chase wants to go back to the dugout. Ugggggg SHUT UP ALREADY

On the left is Spencer Pratt’s home. On the right is Jimmy Kimmel’s. Mr. Kimmel repeatedly violates FCC equal time election laws campaigning against Mr. Pratt on his late night political show. ABC’s defense is that Mr. Kimmel’s show is “comedy.” They are also selling unicorns.

Things you can do as an athlete: - beat your wife - abuse your kids - run from the cops - do insane amounts of drugs - go to strip clubs - bet on games Things you can’t do as an athlete: - Support the current President

How could anyone possibly oppose this!? 🇺🇸 Thank you President Trump!!

I miss Toby Keith.