Federal judge denies lawsuit trying to stop UFC White House event from happening

A federal judge on June 12 denied an emergency lawsuit seeking to stop the UFC from staging a fight card on the White House South Lawn, clearing the way for the event to proceed Sunday as planned.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta rejected the request for an injunction after plaintiffs argued the event would improperly commercialize public property and could damage the South Lawn and nearby landmarks. AP reported that Mehta found the plaintiffs had not shown standing and had not demonstrated irreparable harm.

The ruling means UFC Freedom 250 remains scheduled for June 14, a card that MMA Fighting reported will stream live on Paramount+ at 8 p.m. ET.

The lawsuit

The suit was filed June 6 by the Public Integrity Project, Susan Douglas and Paul Romano. They also argued that congressional approval was required before construction of the event structure known as the Claw.

According to AP, Mehta also noted the timing of the filing in denying emergency relief.

Event timeline

The White House UFC event was publicly announced in July 2025, according to court reporting summarized by MMA Fighting. Preparations reportedly began in May 2026, when equipment and materials started arriving at the White House.

The event has been framed as part of the U.S. 250th anniversary celebrations and, AP reported, President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. The White House has defended the card as consistent with other public celebrations in Washington.

What happens next

For now, the legal challenge has not stopped the event. The main remaining questions are whether the plaintiffs seek an appeal or further emergency relief, and whether any additional operational, security or permit-related issues surface before June 14.