Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) treated District of Columbia Combat Sports Commission (DCCSC) the way Khabib Nurmagomedov treated Michael Chandler on Fight Island.
Thank you, but go home — your services are not required.
UFC will bypass DCCSC in favor of Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) for the upcoming UFC White House event in June. That means every single “Freedom 250” fight will be subject to independent, third-party regulation and all subsequent results will be added to fighters’ professional records.
“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,” ABC President Timothy Shipman wrote in today’s release. “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,” Shipman added. “All bouts on this card are officially licensed and sanctioned contests.”
“UFC is the gold standard for athlete health and safety in combat sports – bar none, and we will absolutely bring those same industry leading standards to this incredible, unique event at the White House,” said Marc Ratner, Senior Vice President of UFC Government & Regulatory Affairs. “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.”
UFC White House will feature a six-bout card headlined by UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria taking on interim 155-pound champion Justin Gaethje, while the co-main event pits former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira attempting to win third UFC title against former interim heavyweight titleholder Ciryl Gane.