With just days until UFC Freedom 250 descends upon the White House South Lawn, UFC CEO Dana White finally broke his silence on the controversies threatening to overshadow the historic event. During a media scrum on Tuesday, White swatted away a new federal lawsuit seeking to halt the card while emphatically denying middleweight champion Sean Strickland’s claim that he has been banned from the premises.
Watch the press conference here (via MMA Junkie/USA Today Sports):
White Dismisses Federal Lawsuit
White claimed that the UFC anticipated a legal challenge and that any threat to the June 14 spectacle was not legitimate.
"We were expecting a lawsuit," White told reporters, referencing the complaint filed by Public Integrity Project on behalf of military veteran Paul Romano and political activist Susan Douglas, accusing the event of corruption.
Chris Unger-GettyImages
He added that the UFC expected pushback against the event much sooner than it arrived.
"We didn't know who or how, but we knew it was coming," White stated.
The lawsuit argues that using federal land for a private, for-profit fight card is illegal. Plaintiffs Romano and Douglas allege the event is a "corrupt" gift to White and his friend, President Donald Trump.
The accusations are serious in nature, but they mainly focus on the 600-ton steel structure known as "The Claw" on the South Lawn, which Trump has teased as a possible permanent fixture. White, however, remained dismissive of the arguments.
He also argued that UFC Freedom 250 is not the only private entity in public spaces for the America 250 festivities.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
“In my hotel, there’s a Washington (D.C.) magazine of all the events that are going on from now ‘til 4th of July in Washington celebrating the 250th birthday of America. I wonder how many people are going to try to sue any of those or say that those things shouldn't happen,” he quipped.
White Clarifies Strickland's Controversial Absence
Amid the legal drama, the UFC boss also responded to the social media controversy ignited by Sean Strickland.
The sole male U.S.-born UFC champion recently claimed he was blacklisted from the event because he said Trump is "owned by [Benjamin Netanyahu]" and mocked U.S. foreign policy.
Michelle Farsi/Zuffa LLC-GettyImages
White scoffed at the notion that the Secret Service or the promotion silenced its outspoken titleholder (via FULL SEND MMA on Instagram):
"Of course, Sean Strickland isn't [banned]. Sean Strickland is banned from humanity," White joked during the tense scrum, half-joking.
“He f— shows up at Power Slap, he starts fights,” White said, referencing the many times Strickland has shown misconduct unbefitting of what White expects of a UFC champion.
In one of the most recent instances, Strickland rushed the cage at a regional MMA event to engage in a brawl with the opponent of one of his teammates just last year (via Alex Behunin on X):
White continued, "He made it very clear he didn’t want to be a part of this event, and now apparently he’s banned.”
The UFC CEO may be referencing Strickland’s previous comments during a live stream on Kick with influencer Adin Ross, saying he’s not interested in the event:
https://youtube.com/shorts/OcwyupAvgl4?si=_qTAtiLHUjKfTLDP
White, however, stated plainly, “Nobody is banned. Nobody’s music is banned. No media members have been banned."
White further emphasized that the strict guest list is a matter of logistics, not political loyalty, given the limited capacity of 4,300 seats.
"There’s a lot of bull— floating around out there right now," White continued, addressing the swirling conspiracy theories. “Nobody is banned. Nothing is banned.”
“I want as many people to be inside of this thing and experience it as possible," White said, countering the narrative that the limited space is an act of censorship.
Strickland, however, responded to White's remarks in the comment section of FULL SEND MMA on Instagram.
Strickland wrote, "I never said the UFC banned. I said, 'the white house didnt clear me.'"
Going back to his original comments, however, Strickland clearly says he was "banned," though he does claim the ban was imposed strictly by the White House and the Trump administration.
The Show Must Go On
Despite the distractions, White remains focused on the unprecedented nature of the event, which features two championship fights: Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje and Alex Pereira vs. Ciryl Gane.
With Strickland threatening to become a physical presence on the D.C. sidewalks, a federal judge potentially weighing in, and even UFC commentator Joe Rogan expressing his distaste for the outdoor environment, Freedom 250 could become the most divisive event in UFC history.
White concluded the scrum by reaffirming that the show will go on, with or without its middleweight king in attendance.
