Federal Judge rejects last-ditch lawsuit, Just days before UFC Freedom 250 was set to make history on the South Lawn of the White House, a federal judge shut down an attempt to stop the event from taking place.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta denied a request for an emergency injunction that would have halted the UFC’s landmark event, allowing the promotion to proceed with its plans for one of the most unique cards in combat sports history. The lawsuit was filed by Washington-area residents Susan Douglas and Paul Romano, who argued that hosting a UFC event on White House grounds was an improper commercial use of public property.
The plaintiffs claimed that the temporary arena structure, known as “The Claw,” required additional approvals and that federal land was being used for a private, for-profit sporting event. They also raised concerns about potential damage to historic sites and argued that congressional authorization should have been obtained before construction began.
Judge Mehta ultimately rejected the request, ruling that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate sufficient legal standing or prove that they would suffer irreparable harm if the event moved forward. The court also noted that plans for UFC Freedom 250 had been public for months and that preparations had already been underway long before the lawsuit was filed. The timing of the challenge became a significant factor in the decision.
“Because Plaintiffs fail to establish both a substantial likelihood of standing and irreparable harm, and because the equities and public interest weigh against emergency relief, Plaintiffs’ Emergency Application for a Temporary Restraining Order or, in the Alternative, an Expedited Preliminary Injunction, ECF No. 3, is denied,” Mehta wrote in his ruling released on Friday.
The judge also questioned the timing of the lawsuit, which was filed just a week away from the UFC card taking place. “The public has known that the White House would be hosting a UFC fight event since President Trump first announced it in July 2025,” Mehta wrote in his ruling. “Equipment and materials for the event began arriving at the White House around May 20, 2026 and construction of the Claw began six days later. “Plaintiffs, however, waited until June 7, 2026 – more than two weeks after visible preparations commenced at the White House – to seek emergency relief.”
With the ruling, the UFC received the green light to proceed with the event as scheduled. The decision removes the biggest obstacle standing in the way of UFC Freedom 250, which features a lightweight title unification bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje in the main event, while Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane clash for interim heavyweight gold in the co-main event.
For weeks, UFC Freedom 250 has been surrounded by controversy, political debate, and legal scrutiny. Now, with the lawsuit dismissed and the injunction denied, the focus can finally return to the fighters and when the Octagon lights up the White House lawn this weekend, UFC Freedom 250 will officially become one of the most talked-about events in the promotion’s history.
