UFC's parent company, TKO Group Holdings, lost around $30m (£22m) staging the "Freedom 250" event at the White House in June, an invite-only occasion attended by President Donald Trump that formed part of celebrations marking 250 years of American independence. Despite the loss, which had been anticipated by the organisation, TKO still reported growth in overall revenue for the second quarter of 2026, highlighting how the high-profile event's costs were offset elsewhere in the business.

Around 4,300 people, including Trump and Vice-President JD Vance, attended the South Lawn event, with no tickets sold to the public and initial costs predicted to exceed $60m (£44m) before sponsorships and partnerships helped recoup some of the outlay. TKO's chief financial officer, Andrew Schleimer, said the event incurred significantly higher than normal costs, partially offset by sold-out global partnerships. UFC's overall revenue rose 29% year-on-year to $535.7m (£398.7m) for the quarter, boosted by a new $7.7bn (£5.7bn) Paramount broadcast deal, with the White House event itself drawing an average of 34 million viewers worldwide.