UFC says White House fights will get ABC sanctioning amid regulatory concerns raised by D.C. commission

All bouts at the UFC's White House event on June 14 will be officially licensed and sanctioned, the UFC announced in a press release Thursday. With the fight card taking place on federal land, no state athletic commission is required, the organization said in the statement, but the Association of Boxing Commissions has agreed to "serve as an independent third party to advise on the regulatory operations" for the event. Concerns about the regulatory status of the event, which the fight promotion has dubbed UFC Freedom 250, were raised in a Washington Post story earlier this week.

Andrew Huff, head of the District of Columbia Combat Sports Commission, expressed frustration that the commission wasn't involved in the planning or the operation of the event. "We don't know anything," Huff told the Washington Post. "Every promoter in the District of Columbia should be and is held to the same standard, whether you're putting on a small wrestling show or a major event.

" Ilia Topuria is one of the main attractions at the White House card. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images) Ian Maule via Getty Images With the UFC event taking place at the White House, which is federal property, there's no requirement for a state athletic commission to be involved. The UFC has acted as its own regulator many times over the years, especially when operating in countries or jurisdictions that have no regulatory bodies of their own to oversee MMA events.

Still, Huff suggested that without a permit and commission oversight, the bouts at the UFC White House event should perhaps be considered unsanctioned exhibitions. He also expressed concern about the precedent this event might set for other promoters to use federal land as a loophole to avoid regulation "What happens when someone puts on a boxing match in Malcom X Park? " Huff said.