On Friday, a federal judge dismissed an effort to stop the upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event at the White House. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta refused to grant emergency relief requested by two Washington, D.C. residents. These residents, Susan Douglas and Paul Romano, attempted to halt the UFC event, citing violations related to events on White House grounds. They claimed that the construction of the 92-foot-tall structure, known as the Claw, was unlawful.
Judge Mehta noted the plaintiffs could not prove any harm from the event. Additionally, Mehta stated they were unlikely to establish standing, meaning the legal right to sue was not evident. The event, dubbed “UFC Freedom 250,” is scheduled on the South Lawn of the White House as part of celebrations for the nation’s 250th anniversary and President Trump’s 80th birthday.
The event involves a series of mixed martial arts fights and has been in preparation for three weeks. Aside from seven matches planned for Sunday, the event includes smaller activities kicking off with a press conference and fighter face-offs at the Lincoln Memorial. A ceremonial weigh-in and a Zac Brown Band performance are set for Saturday at the UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest on the Ellipse.
The White House expects around 4,000 attendees for the UFC fights on the South Lawn, with an estimated 12,000 watching from the Ellipse. The event will be broadcast on Paramount+, a platform owned by Paramount Skydance, CBS News’ parent company. Court documents reveal extensive coordination to host the weekend’s event. Over 700 subcontractors contributed to the construction, and the White House and U.S. Secret Service approved participation from more than 2,000 individuals.
UFC and its affiliates invested over $60 million in the preparations, according to Andrew Fischer, the director for White House Management and Administration.