Dana White fighting lawsuit to get UFC White House event cancelled

The historic UFC Freedom 250 card is just days away, but not everyone is happy about the White House event taking place.

The highly anticipated UFC event will take place on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Sunday (June 14), marking the 250th anniversary of US independence. The date also happens to coincide with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.

Defending lightweight champion Ilia Topuria takes on interim champion Justin Gaethje in the main event, while several mouthwatering matchups also feature on the card. Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane go head-to-head for the interim heavyweight title, while Sean O’Malley faces Aiemann Zahabi in a bantamweight clash.

Reports have suggested that guests could pay up to $1.5 million for special access to the event, with around 4,300 spectators expected to watch from the South Lawn. A further 85,000 tickets will reportedly be made available to members of the public, who will watch from nearby Ellipse Park.

READ MORE: Dana White snubbed as A-list celebrities turn down UFC Freedom 250 invitations

No general-sale tickets were made available to the public.

While most fight fans are excited by the prospect of arguably the UFC’s most prestigious event of all time, it appears not everyone shares the same view.

As reported by TMZ, court documents suggest that two Virginia residents are suing the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior over UFC Freedom 250.

They claim the event is more about providing a platform for President Trump’s allies than celebrating the 250th anniversary of America.

The lawsuit, filed on Saturday (June 6), reportedly “calls out the UFC for offering VIP tickets costing more than $1 million while sponsors jockey for branding opportunities tied to the White House backdrop. It cites Paramount — run by friends of the President, Larry and David Ellison — as another company set to profit from the event through its Paramount+ stream".

The filing also highlights that Trump reportedly purchased £50,000 worth of stock in TKO — the UFC’s parent company — meaning he could also benefit financially from the event.

The lawsuit further argues that the construction of “The Claw”, a 92-foot-tall, 600-ton fighting arena on the South Lawn, was never authorised by Congress. The plaintiffs are reportedly seeking to have the event cancelled, arguing that “the government improperly approved both the fight card and the construction surrounding it”.

It remains unclear whether the lawsuit could result in the event being cancelled, although TMZ claims that “whether the show goes on may now depend on a federal judge”.

UFC Freedom 250 main card

Ilia Topuria vs Justin Gaethje (Lightweight Title)

Alex Pereira vs Ciryl Gane (Interim Heavyweight Title)

Sean O'Malley vs Aiemann Zahabi

Mauricio Ruffy vs Michael Chandler

Bo Nickal vs Kyle Daukaus

Diego Lopes vs Steve Garcia

Derrick Lewis vs Josh Hokit