UFC denies Strickland banned from White House fight

UFC denies Strickland banned from White House fightImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Strickland is a two-time UFC middleweight championByElizabeth BotcherbyBBC Sport journalistPublished3 minutes agoMiddleweight champion Sean Strickland has not been banned from attending Sunday's UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House, says the organisation's chief Dana White.The event is set to take place on the White House's South Lawn on President Donald Trump's 80th birthday, as part of the celebrations marking 250 years of American independence.Last week Strickland claimed the promotion had barred him from the event because of comments he has made about Trump, Israel and the Epstein Files.Speaking on Tuesday, White dismissed Strickland's claims but said attendance would be restricted because "there are only 4,300 tickets"."Of course Sean Strickland isn't banned [from the event]," said White, who then joked: "Sean Strickland is banned from humanity. We don't want him near any human beings anywhere."UFC White House event challenged by lawsuitPublished1 day agoStrickland is a polarising figure in the sport and has made homophobic and racist remarks as well as derogatory comments about women."He shows up at Power Slap and starts fights," added White. "He made it very clear he didn't want to be part of this event, and now he's banned apparently – nobody is banned."Nobody's music is banned, no media members have been banned. The list goes on and on. Nobody's banned. Nothing's banned."Strickland responded on social media, writing on X that he "got a call from from the UFC saying, 'I wasn't cleared by the White House'".Related topicsMixed Martial ArtsMMA schedule and results 2026Published17 MayWatch every Born to Brawl episodePublished28 April 2024More MMA from the BBCNotifications, social media and more with BBC SportPublished1 day ago