UFC Freedom 250 Fight Card at White House to Be Licensed, Sanctioned Bouts, Will Count on Pro Record

The UFC secured a regulatory organization to oversee the highly anticipated Freedom 250 fight card at the White House on June 14.

Per TMZ, the UFC announced in a release that the Association of Boxing Commissions will officially license and regulate the bouts, making them scheduled fights that will count toward the fighters' professional records.

TMZ noted that partnering with the Association of Boxing Commissions "allows the UFC to sidestep the local D.C. Sports Commission, after the group voiced concern over the event." Andrew Huff, the chair of the commission, recently said in an interview with The Washington Post that the UFC had not obtained a permit from his office to officially sanction the fights as professional bouts.

Instead, the UFC stated in a release that the ABC "will serve as an independent third party to advise on the regulatory operations for the unprecedented UFC event scheduled for Sunday, June 14 on the grounds of the iconic White House."

"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," Marc Ratner, the UFC Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, said in a statement. "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."

Timothy Shipman, the President of the ABC, added: "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. 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. he 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 Freedom 250 card is headlined by a lightweight title unification fight between champion Ilia Topuria and interim champ Justin Gaethje. In the co-main event, Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane will face off for the interim heavyweight championship.