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New lawsuit seeking to stop ‘deeply corrupt’ UFC Freedom 250 event at White House

A new federal lawsuit is trying to stop next weekend's UFC Freedom 250 card on the South Lawn of the White House.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of two Virginia residents by the Public Integrity Project, was filed in federal court in the District of Columbia this weekend in an effort to stop the June 14 bout. It called the event on the White House grounds "deeply corrupt" and alleged that several federal rules and regulations have been violated in an effort by President Donald Trump to give UFC head Dana White a favor.

"The President is giving White and his company what none have enjoyed before: unfettered access to the White House and Lincoln Memorial to stage a private, for-profit sports event, with all the promotional and branding opportunities that accompany such access," the lawsuit reads, via The Athletic.

Plaintiffs in the lawsuit alleged that the Department of Interior and the National Park Service violated federal law by both organizing a private sporting event on public property and failing to obtain congressional approval for construction sites, according to ESPN. As the South Lawn and other monuments where events will take place are federal land, the lawsuit alleged, construction of the UFC stadium occurred without a required environmental review. Construction has already started for the event, including a 600-ton steel arch on White House grounds.

The lawsuit is asking for an injunction to stop the event. The lead attorney for the Public Integrity Project, Brendan Ballou, said he expects a ruling on that this week.

"We think that this is a profound misuse of our sacred national monuments for private gain," Ballou said, via ESPN. "And we think that needs to be stopped because it breaks the law … Ultimately, we want to stop this fight, this weigh-in and the permanent installation of the quote-unquote claw.

"And I want to be clear, this is not an attack on MMA in the slightest. This is an attack on the corruption that is facilitating this event."

Ballou also called out financial issues he sees with the event, including the $1.5 million sponsorship packages, potential other advertisements throughout the event and an exclusive streaming deal with Paramount+. He also said that he believes the event doesn't qualify for a special events exemption for the United States' 250th anniversary celebration, as it is being planned by the UFC and not an "executive department or agency" within the federal government.

White has said the UFC is spending $60 million on the event, and it will pay $700,000 to restore the South Lawn after it is done.

The UFC, Department of Interior, National Park Service and Department of Justice did not comment to ESPN, though a Trump administration official slammed the lawsuit in a statement.

"This is an obstructionist, baseless, and dilatory lawsuit brought simply to prevent President Trump from hosting what will undoubtedly go down as one of the most historic sporting events in our Nation's history during our semiquincentennial celebration," the statement read. "This iconic event is no different than the various other White House-hosted events on the South Lawn and properly permitted events on the Ellipse and National Mall throughout the year."

Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria are set to headline the UFC 250 card in their lightweight title bout next Sunday night. Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane will square off in the heavyweight interim title bout, too. The UFC is scheduled to hold news conferences on Friday night in front of the Lincoln Memorial and weigh-ins on Saturday at the Ellipse. The fights Sunday will take place on President Donald Trump's 80th birthday, too.

If it moves forward, it would be the first professional sports event on White House grounds in history.

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