Trump-linked WLFI to fund $250K in UFC fighter bonuses

World Liberty Financial will contribute $250,000 in its USD1 stablecoin to post-fight bonuses at UFC Freedom 250, scheduled for June 14 on the White House South Lawn. The company will pay its portion directly to fighters in USD1.

UFC officials announced a new bonus structure ahead of the card. Two Fight of the Night winners will receive $400,000 each and two Performance of the Night awards will be $425,000 each. WLFI’s $250,000 will be applied to the post-fight awards and paid in USD1. A separate $1 million bonus from Crypto.com for Fight of the Night brings the total announced post-fight pool to about $1.65 million.

World Liberty Financial is a Delaware-based crypto venture co-founded in 2024 by Donald Trump and his sons. Trump is listed in corporate materials as “Chief Crypto Advocate,” and his financial disclosures have reported WLFI holdings valued at more than $50 million. WLFI branding is scheduled to appear inside the octagon and across the broadcast.

UFC CEO Dana White announced the WLFI partnership and the bonus amounts at a press event at the Lincoln Memorial. WLFI chief executive Zach Witkoff described the arrangement as a use case for USD1, saying, “A victory in Washington should mean money in your pocket immediately, not when the bank opens.” He added that USD1 “makes U.S. dollars more accessible and faster than ever before.”

Prediction market activity has tracked strong betting interest ahead of the card. Traders on Polymarket placed more than $4.1 million across 18 UFC Freedom 250 markets. The Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje headliner accounted for about $2 million of that volume, with Ilia Topuria listed near an 80% probability in that market. The interim heavyweight co-main event between Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane drew roughly $1 million in wagers, with Pereira holding a narrow edge.

Polymarket also offered political and event-side propositions tied to the White House setting. Markets showed a 94% probability that Elon Musk would attend and an 86% probability that Donald Trump would mention “White House” in remarks. Other outcome markets included probabilities for Trump dancing, wearing a red tie and hugging someone, as well as odds on announcers saying “White House.”

The event has drawn both criticism and support. Cornell classics professor Mike Fontaine compared the spectacle to ancient Roman uses of public entertainment, invoking the phrase “panem et circenses,” while supporters framed the card as a Flag Day celebration tied to the president’s 80th birthday and the country’s upcoming 250th anniversary. A federal judge denied a request to block the event, allowing it to proceed.

UFC Freedom 250 begins at 8:00 p.m. ET on Paramount+, with the main card led by Ilia Topuria versus Justin Gaethje.