Judge rejects bid to block UFC event at the White House

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Updated on: June 12, 2026 / 1:48 PM EDT

/ CBS News

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Washington — A federal judge on Friday rejected a long-shot effort to block the Ultimate Fighting Championship event set to take place at the White House this weekend.U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta declined to grant emergency relief to two Washington, D.C., residents who sought a court order stopping the UFC event. The D.C. residents, Susan Douglas and Paul Romano, filed their lawsuit six days ago, alleging that the upcoming mixed martial arts fights violated restrictions related to events on White House grounds and that the structure, known as the Claw, that was built for the fights was constructed unlawfully.But Mehta said the plaintiffs failed to establish that they would be harmed by the events and were unlikely to show that they had the legal right to sue, a concept known as standing.