Judge OKs this weekend's UFC event at the White House - ESPN

The UFC fights at the White House will proceed this weekend after a federal judge denied an emergency injunction application Friday attempting to stop UFC Freedom 250, according to court records.

Judge Amit P. Mehta in the federal district court in the District of Columbia ruled that the injunction filed by the Public Integrity Project on behalf of two activists failed «to establish» irreparable harm or an aesthetic (loss of enjoyment) injury to the plaintiffs needed to create standing allowing the case to go forward.

«The court rightly rejected an untimely and frivolous effort to halt the historic UFC event hosted to honor the 250th anniversary of our Nation,» White House spokesman Davis Ingle wrote in a statement to ESPN. «The White House is thankful for this correct decision and looks forward to hosting this once-in-a-lifetime celebration on the South Lawn.»

The UFC did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment on the injunction decision.

The court ruled that neither plaintiff in the case showed it was «directly affected» by the actions of the Department of Interior and National Park Service, the two listed defendants in the case, by allowing the UFC card to happen. Mehta also wrote that the late nature of the suit, which was filed over the weekend by the Public Integrity Project, «though not dispositive, undercuts their claims of irreparable harm.»

Mehta agreed with the plaintiffs «that the public has an interest in preventing the 'unauthorized, commercial exploitation' and 'environmental damage' of protected national landmarks.» However, Mehta said the plaintiffs' lack of standing in their arguments weighs against deciding on those issues. The fight weekend will include a news conference at the Lincoln