Judge rejects injunction to stop UFC White House card

A federal judge has cleared the way for UFC Freedom 250 to take place at the White House on Sunday.

U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta denied an emergency injunction filed by Virginia's Public Integrity Project that sought to halt the event on the South Lawn, according to documents obtained by CNN. The lawsuit argued the National Park Service issued permits improperly and that President Donald Trump and UFC CEO Dana White stood to profit from hosting fights on government property.

UFC invested over $60 million in White House event

Judge Mehta ruled the two plaintiffs lacked legal standing to challenge the card. He acknowledged the financial stakes in his written decision, noting the promotion reportedly invested more than $60 million to stage the event, with $1 million spent on resodding the South Lawn grass alone. "The potential loss of those dollars resulting from a last-minute, court-ordered stoppage cannot be ignored," Mehta wrote, per MMA Mania.

The ruling came down Friday, just two days before the scheduled fight card. White had previously told reporters the promotion was covering all costs for the event and that no taxpayer money would be used.

UFC Freedom 250 is set to proceed Sunday evening as planned.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — All systems go! Federal judge rejects last-second injunction to stop UFC White House card: ‘The potential loss of $60 million cannot be ignored’