When the UFC hosts its Freedom 250 fight card on the White House South Lawn on June 14, D.C.’s Combat Sports Commission will not be involved.
The UFC elected not to use the D.C. commission, which normally serves as an independent party supplying judges and referees, and examining fighters’ health before and after their fights.
Commission chairperson Andrew Huff said the UFC determined it was not required to use the agency because the card is taking place on federal land.
That could set a precedent for future fighting events, Huff told 草莓传媒.
A promoter could effectively schedule a boxing card at Malcolm X Park, which is on federal land and controlled by the National Park Service, and simply not seek to work with local regulators.
鈥淚n essence, it鈥檚 another example of federal overreach into our local affairs,鈥� Huff said. 鈥淭his is an event that鈥檚 happening in our jurisdiction. Our commission, in our view, has the authority to sanction and regulate the event, and we are not doing so.鈥�
When it comes to fighter safety, Huff said a referee employed by a promoter could be influenced to not stop a match 鈥渂ecause it鈥檚 not in the best interest of the company or the event.鈥�
鈥淭here鈥檚 always the possibility that that individual, because they鈥檙e not necessarily impartial, would allow a fight to continue, and someone could get really injured,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hereas a commission official would have no stake, no interest in the event, other than working the event and doing their job.鈥�
The card will be sanctioned by the Association of Boxing Commissions, or ABC, an umbrella organization for all combat sports regulators in North America.
The UFC wanted the White House card to be 鈥渁mong the most thoroughly regulated in the history of the sport鈥� and asked it to bring the 鈥渕ost qualified group of judges, referees, and inspectors in the world,鈥� association president Timothy Shipman .
鈥淭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,鈥� Shipman said. 鈥淎ll bouts on this card are officially licensed and sanctioned contests.鈥�
While Huff said he didn鈥檛 know of a fight card ABC has sanctioned before, he attended its annual conference. The association鈥檚 history of creating unified MMA rules, along with the UFC鈥檚 resources, provided Huff with some comfort regarding fighters’ health and safety.
鈥淚t does provide an additional layer of oversight and regulation, so that to us is a good thing,鈥� he said.
While the District won鈥檛 sanction the event, D.C. fire, police and other agencies will still help, as will federal law enforcement.
Although the UFC elected not to work directly with the commission this time, Huff said the relationship between both entities remains strong. The UFC held events in 2011 and 2019 at Capital One Arena, both times working with the commission.
He called the organization a 鈥減rofessional outfit鈥� and hopes it will work with the District in the future.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 unfortunate in this case that the UFC has chosen not to work with us, but at the end of the day, this is a good thing,鈥� Huff said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking forward to having them and all these fight fans in town for it.鈥�
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