This weekend’s White House card is officially all systems go.
Earlier this week, fight fans were worried about a potential cancelation of the event on the White House South Lawn after a last-second injunction was filed by Virginia’s Public Integrity Project. The lawsuit against the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior stated that UFC’s White House event was unlawful due to improper permitting and for the fact that President Donald Trump and UFC CEO Dana White could enrich themselves
by hosting the event.
Sounds crazy, but this was a real issue at hand heading into fight week.
Luckily, U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta rejected the last-second injunction on Friday, per documents obtained by CNN. Judge Mehta ruled that the two plaintiffs have zero legal right to challenge the event. This means that UFC’s upcoming White House event has been given the full go for Sunday evening. Despite efforts to stop the fight and the political backlash that UFC Freedom 250 has received, the show will go on as planned.
This is good news for all involved, especially UFC as the promotion reportedly spent over $60 million to stage the event. UFC CEO Dana White even revealed that the leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion coughed up $1 million alone to re-do the South Lawn grass.
“And then there is the $60 million that the UFC and UFC-affiliated organizations have expended to put on the event,” wrote Judge Mehta. “The potential loss of those dollars resulting from a last-minute, court-ordered stoppage cannot be ignored.”
Right move? Wrong move? Let us know in the comments below!
For more UFC White House fight card news and coverage click HERE.
