UFC reports $30 million loss from White House card in June

UFC CEO Dana White always told us the UFC White House card came with a hefty price tag. On Monday, TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of the UFC, revealed that the promotion lost around $30 million to host the year’s premier MMA event. Per Andrew Schleimer, the chief financial officer of TKO, event costs […]

Freedom 250 staged on White House South Lawn Invitation-only event cost an estimated $60m in all Gaethje won title on night marred by Obama smear The UFC staging its Freedom 250 card on the South Lawn of the White House in June led to losses of around $30m (roughly £22m), the company’s owners announced. US president Donald Trump, a longtime fan of the UFC, and vice-president JD Vance were in attendance for the event which marked celebrations for 250 years of American independence. Continue reading...

UFC owners lose $30m (£22m) staging the Freedom 250 event, which was attended by President Donald Trump, at the White House in June.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship took a significant financial hit staging UFC Freedom 250 at the White House.

The UFC still saw an increase of revenue despite losing money on the UFC White House card

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 15: The UFC Freedom 250 fights take place on the South Lawn of the White House on June 15, 2026 in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump is hosting a series of Ulitmate Fight Championship matches on his 80th birthday, which the White House is calling "a once-in-a-generation celebration of the American fighting spirit.” (Photo by Jacquelyn Martin- Pool/Getty Images) | Getty Images The UFC always expected a significant loss staging the recent UFC White House card in June, but despite those financial setbacks, the company still saw overall growth in the second quarter of 2026. On Monday, TKO Group Holdings released its second-quarter financials, which included the losses from the UFC White House card. While the company was able to recoup some of the money through sponsorships and other partnerships, the UFC White House event was ultimately paid for by the promotion with no ticket sales or other revenue coming from the event. “With regards to UFC Freedom 250, we incurred significantly higher than normal costs, which we partially offset with sold-out global partnerships inventory,” TKO chief financial officer Andrew Schleimer said during a call with investors. “As a reminder, we did not sell tickets and therefore did not record any live events revenue. “Given the event’s profile, which as anticipated, resulted in an approximate $30 million loss, our margins at UFC as well as on a consolidated basis were meaningfully impacted.” Initial costs for the event were expected to skyrocket past $60 million, but that was eventually lessened by the various partnerships that the UFC signed for the card. Ultimately losing $30 million was expected, but that still didn’t hit the bottom line when it came to the overall quarter. TKO reported that the UFC’s revenue increased 29% year over year, from $119.8 million to $535.7 million for the second quarter of 2026, which included a $64.7 million increase in media rights driven primarily by the new broadcast deal with Paramount that kicked off in January. Overall, TKO always expected the one-time-only UFC White House card would impact financials with a significant loss, but it turns out the $30 million spent didn’t hurt the company in the long run after all.

TKO Group Holdings Inc. said it lost $30 million on the UFC Freedom 250 mixed martial arts event held in Washington on June 14, but gained in other ways in terms of media exposure and partnership deals.