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The White House South Lawn is now transformed into a UFC fight venue
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By Sunday night, the president's backyard will look a lot more like Las Vegas than Washington
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A temporary UFC arena is set to host seven fights as part of the nation's 250th birthday celebration
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The event also happens to fall on President Trump's 80th birthday. The setup includes a full-size octagon, giant video screens, lighting towers, big signs, and a massive overhead structure known as the Claw
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Organizers expect more than 4,000 people inside the arena, with tens of thousands more watching from the ellipse
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Opponents have filed a lawsuit trying to delay or stop the event, arguing it needs additional review and permits
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But the White House dismisses those claims as baseless. Court filings put the production costs at more than $60 million
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White House officials say the UFC is paying for the show while the federal government is handling security, traffic control and emergency services
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Pulling it off is a massive operation. Crews have been screening dozens of trucks a day
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Hundreds of contractors are on site and security will include road closures, fencing, barricades and Secret Service screening, much like at the airports
