UFC White House odds: Bookies favor weather over lawsuit threat

Sportsbooks have posted odds on whether UFC White House will take place as scheduled, with weather presenting a bigger threat than a federal lawsuit filed to stop the June 14 card on the South Lawn.

BetOnline.ag has the event at minus-400 to proceed despite weather concerns, while a postponement due to non-weather issues like litigation sits at plus-600. The forecast calls for heat, humidity, and scattered thunderstorms, which could force a shutdown if lightning strikes within eight miles of the Octagon, per MMA Mania.

Lightning rules could force last-minute cancellation

UFC Executive Producer Craig Borsari told Boston meteorologist Harvey Leonard that light or moderate rain will not halt the fights, which start at 8 p.m. Eastern. "Anything beyond that, whether it's increased winds or high winds — we clearly need to shut down if lightning is within eight miles of the Octagon," Borsari said, according to the report.

The Public Integrity Project, a Washington-based firm, filed an emergency injunction this week arguing the event requires congressional approval because the White House grounds and the Ellipse are federal land governed by national park usage rules, ESPN reported. A court order blocking the card would put organizers in contempt if they proceeded, though MMA Mania noted the lawsuit has slim odds of derailing a card tied to both the president's 80th birthday and the nation's 250th anniversary.

The South Lawn card airs on CBS with weigh-ins set for June 13.

Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Original reporting:

• mmamania.com — Will UFC White House get canceled? Bookies set odds on wonky weather, federal lawsuit | MMA Mania