US4 min(s) read
Published 15:58 08 Jun 2026 GMT
The UFC's long-awaited event on the White House lawn could be facing a major obstacle.
The promotion is finally set to stage an event outside one of America's most iconic buildings on June 14.
The card is expected to feature some of the biggest names in the sport, including Ilia Topuria and Alex Pereira, but severe weather could put the entire event at risk.
AccuWeather reported that there is currently a 65 percent chance of rain during UFC Freedom 250, which is scheduled to begin at 8 PM ET.
Even more concerning for organizers is the reported 39 percent chance of thunderstorms, which could force the event to stop altogether.
The possibility of weather disrupting the card highlights one of Dana White's biggest concerns about hosting UFC events outdoors.
The president and chief executive officer of the organization has long been reluctant to stage major events outside due to unpredictable conditions and factors beyond the promotion's control.
UFC executive producer Craig Borsari recently revealed that extensive contingency plans have been put in place.
"I would say, light to maybe moderate rain, we will try to continue to move forward and conclude the event," Borsari said.
"Anything beyond that, whether it’s, like I said, increased winds, high winds, lightning, we clearly need to shut down if lightning is within eight miles of the Octagon. So, those plans are a different set of contingency planning than light to moderate rain."
A cancellation would be a huge blow to the promotion, as reports have stated that around $60 million has been spent bringing the event to life, including the construction of a massive 92-foot-tall, 600-ton fighting structure known as "The Claw" on the White House South Lawn.
The event has been promoted as one of the biggest cards in UFC history and could see Pereira attempt to make three-division history while Topuria competes in a title unification bout against Justin Gaethje.
The Trump administration has also been heavily promoting the event on social media.
In a post on X showing the construction of "The Claw" alongside footage of President Donald Trump attending UFC events, the administration described it as "the biggest fight in UFC history."
"Buckle up. It’s about to go DOWN," the post was captioned.
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As if the weather wasn't enough of a concern, the event is also facing a legal challenge.
A lawsuit filed by watchdog group the Public Integrity Project is seeking to stop the event from taking place, per NBC News.
The suit was filed on behalf of activist Susan Douglas and Vietnam War veteran Paul Romano and argues that the White House and other federal sites are being improperly used for a private, for-profit sporting event.
The lawsuit claims that "The Claw" was erected without congressional approval and claims the UFC and its partners stand to benefit financially through sponsorship and VIP packages.
The filing also points to Trump's recent financial disclosures, which showed he invested between $15,000 and $50,000 in TKO, UFC's parent company, earlier this year.
The White House, National Park Service, and UFC have not responded to the filing.
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