Lawsuit seeks to block UFC Freedom 250 at White House

Field Level Media|published: 06/07/2026, 8:52pm EDT

Construction continues on a temporary arena that will host the UFC Freedom 250 fight card at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 5, 2026.

The UFC Freedom 250 event scheduled to take place on the White House's South Lawn on June 14 has been challenged by a federal lawsuit.

Billed as the first ever professional sports event on the White House grounds and a part of the nation's 250th celebration, the UFC card is scheduled to coincide with President Trump's 80th birthday.

The filing, issued in District of Columbia federal court, said the organizing of the event was unlawful.

Brendan Ballou, lead attorney for the Public Integrity Project, which issued the lawsuit, said in part, "We think that this is a profound misuse of our sacred national monuments for private gain. And we think that needs to be stopped because it breaks the law."

The Public Integrity Project is a self-described anti-corruption law firm which is based in Washington.

The Trump administration issued a response to ESPN Sunday.

"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 card is headlined by lightweight champion Ilia Topuria taking on interim champion Justin Gaethje in a belt unification fight. An interim heavyweight title bout between Ciryl Gane and Alex Pereira is billed as the co-main event.

--Field Level Media