Behind the Scenes at the White House: Massive Security and Prep for Sunday’s UFC Fight

Secret Service and crews transform the South Lawn into a high-security arena for a historic night of fights.

This Sunday, the White House South Lawn is turning into a professional fighting arena for UFC Freedom 250. The event is being hosted by President Donald Trump to celebrate his 80th birthday and America's 250th anniversary. Because it is the first time a sports arena has ever been built on these historic grounds, federal agencies are treating it with maximum security.

Staging this event is a massive puzzle. The UFC is paying the entire $60 million production bill. Before anyone could even bring a hammer onto the grass, hundreds of crew members and truckloads of equipment had to pass strict Secret Service background checks and security sweeps. The temporary stadium they built will hold about 4,300 exclusive VIP guests.

To protect the famous lawn, engineers built a giant, seven-story metal structure over the cage called "The Claw." It stands 92 feet tall and holds all the lights and speakers so crews didn't have to dig into the historic soil. Even with these precautions, fixing the grass after the event is expected to cost up to $700,000.

Outside the White House gates, Washington, D.C. has set aside an extra $10 million to $12 million just for security. Police are preparing for massive crowds at a free public viewing party on the nearby Ellipse. Security is so strict that several sports reporters have already been banned from the media tours because they did not pass their security background checks in time.