Fans rip – UFC Freedom 250 at the White House on Donald Trump’s 80th birthday sparked a fresh wave of backlash after the promotion revealed red, white and blue ring-girl outfits tied to America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
The pictures hit the timeline and the reaction followed quickly—sharp, mocking, and relentless.
UFC Freedom 250. headlined by a historic fight night on the White House South Lawn on Sunday and staged to fall on Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. has already been surrounded by major attention. But the latest setback for the promotion came after it revealed custom outfits for the ring girls—often called “Octagon girls” by the UFC—slated to appear at the event.
Instead of the basic red or black outfits typically worn on duty, the UFC opted for a new look this weekend. The costumes will be red, white and blue, built around a design that pays homage to the American flag as part of the Semiquincentennial celebrations.
Some fans praised the change. Others weren’t buying it at all. After images of the Octagon girls went viral on X. one fan wrote: “This is so tacky.” Another said: “I hate this sooo bad. ” adding a smiling-but-crying emoji. A different critic labeled it “Perfectly tacky and on brand,” while another posted: “This is all one big humiliation fest.”.
The criticism didn’t stay narrowly on taste. Some viewers insisted the ring girls looked like “Wonder Woman,” while others argued the UFC had gone “overly patriotic.”
The UFC’s own preview featured longtime ring girls Chrissy Blair and Red Dela Cruz modeling the outfits in photos released less than one week before the event. In the images. Blair wore a striped patterned skirt. while Dela Cruz stood beside her in a short dress that incorporated themes of the American flag.
Those costumes are set to be worn during the ceremonial weigh-ins and on fight night as the UFC stages the event on the White House South Lawn, where an octagon and stage have been constructed.
When the UFC released the designs, it framed them as more than a visual flourish. The promotion said: “The inspiration behind the designs were born from the intersection of sport, spectacle, and celebration. The goal was to blend strength. athleticism. glamour. and American heritage into a wardrobe language that felt sophisticated. powerful. and unmistakably iconic to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America.”.
It added that “Rich textiles, custom embroidery, crystal embellishment, and patriotic motifs brought texture, movement, and a fresh interpretation of American glamour,” describing each look as part of a “red, white, and blue narrative.”
For all that, the outfits are arriving with a second layer of heat around the event itself. The backlash lands just days after it was revealed that a number of A-listers had turned down the opportunity to attend Sunday’s show.
UFC Freedom 250 is scheduled to take place on June 14 on the White House South Lawn, serving as a fight night for Dana White’s MMA promotion.
UFC Freedom 250 White House ring girls Octagon girls Chrissy Blair Red Dela Cruz Semiquincentennial Donald Trump 80th birthday Dana White X backlash
ring girls outfits are so tacky lol
I swear UFC always makes everything political now. Red white and blue just feels forced, like they’re trying to butter up people or something. Also the White House thing on his birthday?? weird vibe.
Wait so they did red white and blue because it’s the 250th anniversary right? I saw someone say it looked like Wonder Woman which… kinda? Idk I just don’t get why ring girls can’t wear normal outfits. Feels like an humiliation fest bc it’s tied to Trump’s 80th or whatever.
This is what happens when they try to “honor America” and it turns into cringe. Like it’s not even subtle, it’s literally flag themed. And they had Chrissy Blair and Red Dela Cruz in the promo pics, so obviously they knew people would roast it. I’m seeing folks say it’s on brand but like… on brand for what, embarrassing marketing? also ppl acting like they’re secretly doing propaganda or something, which might be a stretch but still.