The Octagon of the White House, the political light and darkness hidden behind the spectacular fighting. > News

The biggest controversy about this event lies in its timing and nature. Although it started as an event commemorating American independence, the color of the event changed completely as it actually coincided with President Donald Trump's 80th birthday. The huge ‘Claw’ structure installed on the South Lawn, south of the White House, clearly showed that this was not just a park but a huge entertainment stadium. The dual system of the internal stadium, where active-duty soldiers and political figures were invited, and the Ellipse Park, where ordinary citizens watched on a large screen, simultaneously revealed the closedness and commercial nature of the event. Some criticized this for privatizing a national event, and citizens protested at the entrance to the event venue denouncing this, exposing the political conflict.

In terms of sport, this was the most ambitious challenge in UFC history. In particular, the fact that Alex Ferreira entered the interim heavyweight title fight and attempted to set an unprecedented record of becoming the first UFC champion to win three weight divisions was highly anticipated by fans. The appearance of Ferreira wearing traditional Brazilian makeup at the weigh-in event added tension to the stadium, and the technical battle between him and Cyril, the best heavyweight technician, made the hearts of martial arts fans around the world race. This match, which was so tight that even gamblers had difficulty predicting the winner, was held at a symbolic location, the White House, to add to its historical significance. In addition, the bracket that included the unification title fight between lightweight champion Ilya Topuria and Justin Gaethje was the best lineup the UFC could show.

But the world of sports was cruel, and Ferreira's dream of conquering three weight divisions was dashed under the bright lights of the White House. Cyril Gan completely dominated the match, neutralizing Pereira's powerful strikes with skillful steps and distance control. The most shocking twist of the contest was that Ferreira suffered a TKO loss after suffering a tear and severe bleeding in the eye area during the match. Cyril Gan, who defeated Ferreira, proved his mettle by becoming the new interim heavyweight champion, and fans around the world were shocked. As a result, this White House event left behind glory for the winner and painful history for the challenger, once again confirming the essence of sports, ‘unpredictability.’

It is also an undeniable fact that President Trump's personal preferences and influence are deeply involved behind the competition. The fact that the President's intentions were reflected in the composition of the bracket based on his long friendship with UFC CEO White proves that this event is not just a sporting event. The rumor that the Josh Hockett-Derek Lewis match was added at Trump's request is an example of how the White House can be transformed into a platform for sports entertainment. The coexistence of the heavy national tasks of war and an agreement to end the war and the UFC's exciting fighting matches at the same time reflects the complex cross-section of modern American society.