The UFC White House event is threatening to descend into farce after officials warned that the fight night could be unsanctioned – unless organizers pay a $100 permit.
The event, dubbed UFC Freedom 250, is scheduled for June 14 – Donald Trump’s 80th birthday – and is part of the administration’s celebrations of 250 years of independence.
The show has already split fans, with some lauding the plans while others have expressed concern over safety and also voiced their disappointment over the fights chosen on the card.
Trump recently insisted the event on the South Lawn will be ‘amazing,’ while praising the hard work of UFC chief Dana White.
But now the head of the DC Combat Sports Commission – which regulates boxing, mixed martial arts and professional wrestling in the capital – has warned that the bouts will not count towards fighters’ records unless the UFC pays the $100 fee.
Per the Washington Post, the UFC has reportedly said it does not need a permit because the show is ‘taking place on federal land.’
Donald Trump has hit back at criticism surrounding this summer’s UFC White House event
The UFC plan to host ‘UFC Freedom 250’ on the White House South Lawn on June 14
Without a permit, however, the fights would be considered unsanctioned. The DC Combat Sports Commission requires fighters, managers and promoters to be granted licenses before events.
To receive a license, fighters usually need to provide medical records, have a medical examination by an assigned doctor and appear at a commission-sanctioned weigh-in.
‘We don’t know anything,’ Andrew Huff, chair of the DC Combat Sports Commission, told the Washington Post.
‘Every promoter in the District of Columbia should be, and is, held to the same standard, whether you’re putting on a small wrestling show or a major event.
‘I’m concerned about precedent. What happens when someone puts on a boxing match in Malcolm X Park? They don’t need to get us involved?”
The UFC does have its own medical staff but Huff told the Post that he has concerns over their impartiality, given they are employed by the organization. The Daily Mail has reached out to the UFC for comment.
Earlier this week, Trump confirmed he plans to attend UFC Freedom 250 in an interview with Jake Paul. ‘It’s going to be amazing at the White House,’ he said.
‘And Dana [White] is a great guy. He’s a good fan of yours, you know. Dana is a good guy. The best. I mean, there’s nobody like him.’
The event will be held on the south lawn of the White House, with extra seating on The Ellipse
Earlier this week, UFC chief White confirmed plans to issue 85,000 free tickets for the White House fight card.
Trump continued: ‘[White] had the idea of staging it right at the front door of the White House. We’ll be right in the front door of the White House.
‘And he’s got a tremendous card. I don’t even know if it’s filled out, but I just saw it and it looks like it’s going to be all top guys. They all want to fight at the White House.
‘So it’s going to be in honor of the 250th year. It’ll be great,’ the President added.
Currently there are plans to have around 5,000 VIP/military seats on the South Lawn for the June 14 event, with another 80,000 seats at the adjacent Ellipse Park.
