UFC Freedom 250: Follow all the action from extraordinary event on White House lawn in front of Donald Trump and star-studded crowd

The Americans are Guaranteed to be celebrating after this one… it’s the only fight on the card featuring two home athletes.

Nickal is the brilliant prospect, fearsome wrestler and elite competitor who the UFC have really pushed hard, while Daukaus has won his last six, with the last two of those in the big show.

Another win tonight at middleweight would be the biggest of his career but Nickal comes in as the favourite.

There’s a huge screen and fan park outside the premises for those not lucky enough – or without the hottest ticket in town – to enjoy the action and Lopes’ finish in the opener drew a massive reaction. What with the Knicks winning, the World Cup on and now this, it really is party time over in the States.

Usually the fighters prepare for their moment in the spotlight by hitting a few pads in a makeshift changing room. Not tonight. They are stationed in the opulence of arguably the most famous building in the world before heading down the steps to earn their living.

Another nice touch is that they’re accompanied by various service heroes, who are named on the broadcast.

That’s how you start a show!

Diego Lopes was given the responsibility of the first fight for one reason – violence.

He delivers the first finish of the White House event in the first fight on the card, planting a massive right hand followed by a left on the whiskers of Garcia before piling on the punishment and forcing the referee to step in. Lopes then sticks a cowboy hat on as he celebrates his work.

A couple of snaps here that bring you the flavour of the night, this is the USA dialled up to 11. Trump and White’s relationship goes way back and the president has attended a number of events before, the pair of them look delighted at how this one has turned out so far – no doubt White will be nervously checking that weather forecast though. As for Trump, I don’t suppose many 80-year-olds celebrate their birthday like this.

The First Lady is of course in attendance tonight and is flanked by an impeccably turned out military man as she makes her short trip from the White House to her seat, not bad having all this in your back garden is it?

A live band plays the walk-on music and Steve Garcia is the first fighter of the night to strut out of the White House doors, down the steps and into the octagon, you have to give it to them, these are the kind of visuals you’d get in some unlockable bonus in a game.

Garcia vs Diego Lopes has been chosen very deliberately as the curtain-raiser here. This one should absolutely catch fire with both of the most entertaining scrappers in the UFC going toe-to-toe.

He’s never far from controversy is he? Sean Strickland has been turfed out by the Secret Service already – not exactly a hard man to find…

More on that from our man on the ground, James Cohen, here.

Wow. Now proceedings have really kicked off in style.

The national anthem is belted out in the centre of the octagon. Donald Trump salutes the jets flying over the arena and is stood next to a beaming Dana White on the balcony.

It still feels utterly surreal that this is all taking place at the White House. We’re off to a flyer (sorry).