I natt norsk tid var Det hvite hus forvandlet til en MMA-arena der Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) arrangerte det mye omtalte stevnet «Freedom 250» på sørplenen i Washington D.C.
Fakta: UFC
* Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) er verdens største organisasjon som arrangerer mixed martial arts-kamper (MMA).
* Den ble opprettet i USA i 1993. De første arrangementene var turneringer med åtte utøvere hvor en måtte beseire tre motstandere i løpet av én kveld for å vinne.
* Hensikten med denne turneringa var å sette opp forskjellige kampsportstiler mot hverandre for å endelig avgjøre den evige diskusjonen om hvilken kampsport som var den mest effektive.
* Seinere beveget UFC seg vekk fra turneringsformatet til faste mesterskap som avgjøres i tittelkamper.
Rundt 4000 spesielt inviterte gjester var på plass til det spektakulære arrangementet, som markerte både USAs 250-årsjubileum og president Donald Trumps 80-årsdag.
Like før klokka 02.30 norsk tid ankom Trump.
«USA, USA, USA», ropte fansen mens Trump sto på scenen sammen med UFC-president Dana White, før den amerikanske nasjonalsangen ble framført av artisten Zac Brown.
- Jeg har sett mye rart, men dette føles surrealistisk. Det føles ikke ekte. Det er galskap, sa UFC-kommentator Joe Rogan.
I GANG: Arenaen ses fra Washington-monumentet på sørplenen ved Det hvite hus. Foto: Kent Nishimura / Pool Photo via AP / NTB
STORSLÅTT: US Air Force Thunderbirds og US Navy Blue Angels gjennomførte en felles flyoppvisning under nasjonalsangen under UFC Freedom 250. Foto: Win McNamee / Pool via AP / NTB
DUKKET OPP: Meta-sjef Mark Zuckerberg er en stor tilhenger av UFC. Foto: Alex Brandon / AP / NTB / NTB
Imponert
Arrangementet gikk tilnærmet sømløst, til tross for advarsler om krevende værforhold , søksmål og betydelig kritikk i forkant.
Den profilerte MMA-journalisten Ariel Helwani lot seg begeistre. På X skrev han at både kampene og stemningen gjorde stort inntrykk.
- Disse innmarsjene er helt utrolige. Hver eneste finalist til «årets innmarsj» kommer til å komme fra dette kortet, skrev Helwani.
Ariel Helwani
Ariel
Helwani
MMA-reporter
Han fortsatte :
- Jeg skal være helt ærlig med dere: Jeg har aldri opplevd noe liknende. Følelsen av lettelse og glede jeg kjenner på akkurat nå er ulik alt jeg har kjent før. Hvis du er ute etter negativ dekning av dette arrangementet, får du lete et annet sted. Jeg har bare glede i hjertet akkurat nå.
UFC-ekspert Daniel Cormier var også fornøyd:
- Dette ble bedre enn jeg hadde sett for meg. Det var ikke en dråpe regn. Det var perfekt - akkurat som på film, sa Cormier.
Donald Trump gjør klart for UFC Freedom 250 ved Det hvite hus, og sammenligner arenaen med Eiffeltårnet. Reporter: Sander Aadalen. Video: Reuters / AP / NTB
Demokraten Mallory McMorrow rettet på sin side kritikk mot arrangementet. Hun mente at Trump arrangerte en storslått bursdagsfeiring samtidig som mange amerikanere sliter økonomisk.
- Stadig flere innbyggere i Michigan sliter på grunn av denne presidentens beslutninger, og så holder han en bursdagsfest for seg selv. Det gir en «la dem spise kake»-følelse, sa McMorrow.
Utenfor den intime arenaen skal så mange som 80 000 mennesker ha samlet seg for å se kampene gratis på storskjerm som en del av arrangementet.
FULLT: Under TV-sendingen ble det opplyst at så mange som 80 000 tilskuere fulgte MMA-arrangementet «UFC Freedom 250» på storskjerm på The Ellipse, sør for Det hvite hus i Washington D.C. Foto: Alex Wroblewski / AFP / NTB
Dramatiske kamper
Men hva med det sportslige? I alt sto sju kamper på programmet under det historiske stevnet.
Brasilianske Diego Lopes åpnet showet med seier over amerikanske Steve Garcia på teknisk knockout i den andre runden.
SEIRET: Diego Lopes i aksjon mot Steve Garcia. Foto: REUTERS / Evan Vucci / NTB
Så seiret amerikanske Bo Nickal overlegent etter flere slag og albuer mot landsmannen Kyle Daukaus.
- Jeg må takke Trump. Det kreves noe spesielt for å få til dette arrangementet. Han har baller, sa Nickal etter seieren som kom i den første runden.
TAKKET TRUMP: Bo Nickal etter seieren over Kyle Daukaus. Foto: AP Photo / Alex Brandon / NTB
I kamp nummer tre imponerte Maurício Ruffy fra Brasil stort da han dominerte mot amerikanske Michael Chandler.
Dommeren stoppet oppgjøret i den første runden etter at Chandler hadde blitt påført flere brutale slag og spark.
FØR KAMPEN: Mauricio Ruffy varmer opp i «Green Room» i Det hvite hus før lettvektskampen mot Michael Chandler. Foto: Jacquelyn Martin / Pool via Reuters / NTB
I kamp nummer fire seiret tungvekteren Josh Hokit (USA) over Derrick Lewis (USA) på teknisk knockout i den andre runden.
Etterpå slo han av en prat med Trump og ga ham et smykke.
GJORDE JOBBEN: Josh Hokit. Foto: AP Photo / Alex Brandon / NTB
I nattas tredje siste oppgjør vant amerikanske Sean O'Malley etter et strakt venstreslag etterfulgt av et strakt høyreslag mot kanadiske Aiemann Zahabi i den andre runden.
- Det er vanskelig å beskrive med ord. Jeg sa a…
Read the full article at Dagbladet →📄Source document: Fox News→8 reports
NRK NyheterState / PublicCenter5 days agoThe FBI revealed that plans for an attack on an event celebrating Donald Trump's 80th birthday were discovered just four days before the event. The attack would have involved drones carrying explosives targeting people near the event, followed by sharpshooters opening fire on the crowd. The plot was discussed in a Signal group chat. Five individuals across multiple states have been arrested, with 18 others identified as potentially involved. Weapons and ammunition were seized during searches of suspects' homes.
Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information without overtly biased language or selective sourcing. It reports on the FBI's findings and details of the planned attack without taking a stance on the political implications or framing the event as either supportive or critical of Trump.
DagbladetIndependentCenter5 days agoThe FBI has thwarted a potential attack on an event at the White House where President Donald Trump participated over the weekend, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. According to Fox News, the planned attack targeted a UFC event held outside the White House on Sunday. Five individuals were arrested, and 23 people have been identified as possibly involved in planning the attack. The plan involved sending drones with explosives toward buildings near the event to cause an evacuation, after which snipers would be waiting to ambush people. Another phase of the plan included storming the White. 4
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a security incident involving the FBI and a thwarted attack, focusing on factual details such as the number of arrests, the nature of the planned attack, and the involvement of various agencies. There is no evident ideological framing or biased language.
AftenpostenParty-aligned🔒Center5 days agoThe FBI has thwarted a potential attack on an event at the White House where President Donald Trump was present over the weekend, according to FBI Director Kash Patel. The plot involved sending drones with explosives toward buildings near the event, aiming to trigger an evacuation leading to ambushes by snipers. Five individuals were arrested, and 23 people have been identified as possibly involved in planning the attack. The attack was planned for the title fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) during the celebration of Trump's 80th birthday on Sunday.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a thwarted attack involving law enforcement actions and details of the plot without apparent ideological framing. It cites FBI Director Kash Patel directly and includes specific operational details such as drone attacks and arrests, presenting facts without overtly biased phr.
Official sources cited
- government FBI Director Kash Patel
- press release Fox News
DagbladetIndependentCenter6 days ago Could be the dumbest in the countryThe article describes the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event 'Freedom 250' held at the South Lawn of the White House in Washington D.C., which coincided with both the 250th anniversary of the United States and former President Donald Trump's 80th birthday. The event attracted around 4000 specially invited guests. Trump arrived shortly before 02:30 Norwegian time and was present on stage with UFC president Dana White. The national anthem was performed by Zac Brown. UFC commentator Joe Rogan described the scene as surreal and bizarre.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about the UFC event without taking a stance or showing bias towards any political figure or ideology. It focuses on describing the event and includes quotes from participants without apparent slant.
DagbladetIndependentCenter6 days ago References in the homelandThe article describes the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event 'Freedom 250' held at the South Lawn of the White House in Washington D.C., which coincided with both the 250th anniversary of the United States and former President Donald Trump's 80th birthday. The event attracted around 4000 specially invited guests. Trump arrived shortly before 02:30 Norwegian time and was present on stage with UFC president Dana White. The American national anthem was performed by Zac Brown. UFC commentator Joe Rogan described the scene as surreal and bizarre.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about the UFC event without taking a stance or showing bias towards any political figure or ideology. It focuses on describing the event and includes quotes from participants without apparent slant.
DagbladetIndependentCenter7 days ago - City shore av plasteredThe article describes the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event 'Freedom 250' held at the South Lawn of the White House in Washington D.C., which coincided with both the 250th anniversary of the United States and former President Donald Trump's 80th birthday. Around 4,000 specially invited guests attended the event. Trump arrived shortly before 02:30 Norwegian time and was present on stage with UFC president Dana White. The event included the performance of the American national anthem by Zac Brown. UFC commentator Joe Rogan described the scene as surreal and bizarre.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about the UFC event without taking a stance or showing bias toward any political figure or ideology. It includes quotes from a commentator but does not frame them in a biased manner.
Official sources cited
- organisation Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
DagbladetIndependentCenter7 days ago May be illegalThe article discusses an upcoming UFC event called 'Freedom 250' being held at the White House South Lawn, marking both the United States' 250th anniversary and former President Donald Trump's 80th birthday. The event has drawn attention due to the special attire worn by UFC ring models, which may potentially violate American flag regulations. The article includes background information on UFC, including its history and evolution from tournament-based events to championship-style competitions.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about the UFC event and its historical context without showing clear ideological bias. It does not take a stance on political issues or present any biased language toward political figures or parties.
DagbladetIndependentCenter8 days ago Rejected the anchor: So it took the guyThe large UFC event outside the White House avoided being halted by the court. The atmosphere exploded when the stars gathered in front of the press.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a public event and legal decision without apparent ideological framing or bias. It does not take a stance on political issues or present information in a way that favors one side over another.
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