This seemingly insignificant detail will be crucial in the
operation of the
Ultimate Fighting Championship’s fight card at the White
House.

On Monday, the promotion
encountered a major regulatory snafu when the District of
Columbia Combat Sports Commission weighed in on the fight card. As
the
UFC White House: Freedom 250 event is to be held on federal
land and not under a state’s jurisdiction, the UFC can technically
serve as its own commission in running it—a la the upcoming

UFC Macau show, for example.

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The drama all came down to a $100 permit that at the time the UFC
was refusing to acquire. The D.C. commission and its head, Andrew
Huff, stated that any fight card run without this permit would be
considered unsanctioned and may not be eligible for records. Huff’s
overarching concern is that any other event would receive this same
permit that would allow the commission to be involved in the
regulatory process, including the use of commission medical
staff.

This came to a close on Thursday, when the promotion announced
alongside the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) that the UFC
would use this regulatory entity to serve as an independent third
party to operate the card. Under this agreement, the Las
Vegas-based organization will work with the ABC to select the
officiating crew of referees, judges and the like. Additionally, it
will collaborate with the ABC for the medical examinations of the
athletes before, during and after the event.

Dotting the T’s and Crossing the I’s

The President of the ABC, Timothy Shipman, expressed relief that
the UFC was able to come to terms with a sanctioning body to
provide independent oversight over this historic show. In a
statement, he revealed some of what the ABC would be involved in
regarding Freedom 250.

“As the event is being held on federal property, there is no
requirement for the UFC to select a state athletic commission to
oversee the event,” Shipman wrote. “The UFC expresses its
commitment to ensuring that this event is among the most thoroughly
regulated in the history of the sport and has requested that the
ABC serve as an independent third party to assist in assembling the
most qualified group of judges, referees, and inspectors in the
world. The UFC has further confirmed that it will abide by all
applicable regulatory requirements in support of this event,
including all required medical examinations, pre-bout and post-bout
physicals, and athlete safety protocols. All bouts on this card are
officially licensed and sanctioned contests.”

The ABC will work alongside the UFC’s Chief Business Officer,
Hunter Campbell, as well as former regulator and currently Senior
Vice President of the UFC’s Government and Regulatory Affairs
department, Marc Ratner. The latter also put out a brief statement
signaling his involvement in the matters.

“UFC is the gold standard for athlete health and safety in combat
sports—bar none,” Ratner wrote, “and we will absolutely bring those
same industry leading standards to this incredible, unique event at
the White House. We thank the Association of Boxing Commissions for
lending their expertise to ensure the highest standards of
competitive integrity and professional governance to a truly
unprecedented stage for MMA.”

The UFC White House event will go down on June 14 with a pair of
championships atop the six-fight billing. The men in the marquee
will fight to unify the lightweight strap, as champ Ilia
Topuria battles interim beltholder Justin
Gaethje. In the co-main attraction, Alex
Pereira moves up to heavyweight in search of his third
divisional strap, and he will face ex-interim titlist Ciryl Gane.
The remainder of the lineup will see Sean
O’Malley take on Aiemann
Zahabi at bantamweight; Mauricio
Ruffy will throw down with Michael
Chandler in a 155-pound showcase affair; Bo Nickal and
Kyle
Daukaus meet at middleweight; the event will kick off with a
featherweight banger when Diego Lopes
faces Steve
Garcia.

IMAK ADMIN

By IMAK ADMIN

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