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• To see the author’s UFC rankings vs. the entire media panel, visit CherokeeScout.com
UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 was a feast for the red, white and blue senses, starting with the stunning backdrop of the White House shining brightly behind the Octagon. The U.S. Marine Band sang the walkout songs in memorable fashion. Members of the military were rightly honored. The production deserves an Emmy. And an average of 8.2 million viewers tuned in on the subscription channel Paramount Plus, tops in company history.
Because freedom, public and critical opinions regarding UFC Freedom 250 have been sharply divided. Some compared it to the 2006 satirical comedy movie Idiocracy, which memorably features a wrestling arena – the House of Representin' – right inside the White House, where President Camacho fires machine guns, a massive brawl takes place and the cabinet turns against the protagonist.
(Note: The WWE, which is owned by the same company as the UFC, is reportedly interested in performing at the White House as well. Unlike MMA, which is as real as it gets, the wildly inappropriate professional wrestling storylines that could come about on such a political stage boggle the mind.)
To be sure, UFC Freedom 250 was President Donald Trump’s idea and held at his home on his 80th birthday, so politics couldn’t be completely removed from the event. It’s perfectly understandable that the unprecedented nature of hosting a commercial combat sporting event on the White House grounds would draw mixed reactions.
For full transparency, I have been a member of the UFC’s media rankings panel for 13 years. Mixed martial arts has long surpassed baseball as my favorite sport. Yet, I recognize that some people – like one of my daughters – can’t see past two people causing violence to one another. Others just don’t like the sight of two sweaty men grappling in their shorts.
However, for those who actually watched UFC Freedom 250, they got more than their money’s worth. There were seven fights and seven knockout finishes, another first for the company. American Sean O’Malley KO’d a Canadian and saluted the crowd before the referee could even call it off. The main event was a fight for the ages that ended in a massive upset for American Justin Gaethje, who forced a heavily favored Spaniard’s corner to throw in the towel after four rounds to become the new lightweight champion.
Some criticized the “$60 million event,” but the UFC – not taxpayers – bore the cost, which included putting the historic South Lawn back together afterward. There was some environmental damage from tens of thousands of fans watching on large screens at nearby Ellipse Park, which should not be overlooked. And one fighter made a ridiculously stupid comment about Michelle Obama that has properly been condemned.
Response to the "History of America" theme – the overarching "Americana" visual segments and patriotism-heavy messaging showcased at UF. Freedom 250 – has also been highly polarized, ranging from awe-inspired national pride to severe criticism of a perceived tacky spectacle. At the same time, the event forced people outside of the traditional combat sports demographic to form an opinion, generating immense debate over the line between cultural celebration and government institutions.
Still, the positives easily outweighed the negatives. The patriotic elements, which included military flyovers, gave the event a celebratory feel and, despite our imperfections, the United States still deserves to be celebrated. What truly makes our country great is people have the right to decide for themselves how they feel about these kind of cultural touchstones, and without fear of governmental repercussions.
The author can be reached via email at dbrown1113@msn.com.