The United States government has countered a lawsuit that is seeking to shut down the UFC Freedom 250 event this weekend, reports USA Today.
The Public Integrity Project is asking for a temporary injunction to halt the event stating Freedom 250 is “a corrupt scheme to hand the White House South Lawn and Lincoln Memorial to a private, for-profit sports promoter in violation of federal law.”
“No one is holding Plaintiffs in a jiu jitsu lock forcing them to watch UFC Freedom 250 against their will. The public interest does not favor allowing them to exercise a heckler’s veto, particularly at this late date,” stated Justice Department lawyers in their response.
The Justice Department also criticized the timing of the lawsuit stating that the event was announced quite some time ago and that the guests and fighters themselves would be negatively impacted.
“Many of the event’s attendees will visit from outside the capital region, and have already invested personal resources in lodging, air transportation, and other arrangements,’’ the filing states, referring to the UFC Freedom 250 event that will feature seven fights. “Fourteen world-class athletes, who have been training for months, have traveled from all over the world to compete (including for two world championships). All these hopes could be dashed at the very last moment, however, by the whim of two people who believe they have superior taste and want to spoil the event for everyone else,’’ the government stated.
The Justice Department also took another shot at the Public Integrity Project law firm stating they are: “Two people who believe they have superior taste and want to spoil the event for everyone else.”
According to a recent poll by Seton Hall Sports Poll , 46% of Americans think the event will negatively impact the public image of the White House. 22% believe the impact will be positive.
Dana White himself told MMA Junkie that the show will go on…rain or shine.
“I don’t care if it snows, rains, whatever, we’re going – and even lightning. You guys all played sports when you were growing up. Whenever there was lightning, you’d sit the lightning out, and then when it was over, you played. That’s what we’ll do. And if there would be lightning, we’d know it days before, and then we would work around it,” he said.
The event itself will fall on Flag Day and President Donald Trump’s birthday.
UFC Freedom 250 is set to take place this Saturday at 8 p.m. ET and is available to watch on Paramount+.
