UFC announced that it would be looking to the Association of Boxing Commissions for its upcoming Freedom 250 event at the White House, in a move that DC Combat Sports Commission Chairman Andrew Huff said sets a “dangerous precedent” for the industry. 

The sanctioning dispute had somewhat clouded the upcoming card on June 14, with the possibility that the fights on the card wouldn’t be official. Though this announcement may not dissipate all issues. 

Providing his statement on the UFC’s announcement, ABC President Timothy Shipman was quoted: “As the event is being held on federal property, there is no requirement for the UFC to select a state athletic commission to oversee the event.”

He continued, “UFC expresses its commitment to ensuring that this event is among the most thoroughly regulated in the history of the sport and has requested that the ABC serve as an independent third party to assist in assembling the most qualified judges, referees, and inspectors in the world. The 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. All bouts on this card are officially licensed and sanctioned contests.”

UFC’s Chief Business Officer, Hunter Campbell, and Marc Ratner, Senior Vice President of UFC’s Government and Regulatory Affairs, will collaborate with ABC on the details of he regulatory oversight for the event, per the announcement.

However, Huff told “SevereMMA” after the announcement that, “The ABC is not a sanctioning body and has no authority in the District of Columbia. While I am relieved to learn that an additional organization will maintain some sort of oversight of the UFC White House event, I am disappointed that the ABC, which represents Commissions across the United States, including in the District of Columbia, has chosen to ignore our Commission’s laws and authority. It sets a dangerous precedent for all commissions and the industry as a whole.”

President Donald Trump is on the marketing train for UFC’s White House card, Freedom 250, on June 14, and there are plenty of Republicans chasing tickets for the historic event. Axios published a report that quoted Trump as saying the event was the “hottest ticket I’ve ever seen,” as donors, lobbyists, Congress members, and well-connected fans clamor for tickets. 

The event will see 5,000 VIP seats on the White House South Lawn. Many of those tickets will go to military personnel, leaving just a couple thousand for the aforementioned well-connected. After getting inundated with requests, one source told Axios that they’re sick of being asked about the fight. 

It’s further noted that “Republicans began flooding the White House with inquiries about VIP tickets almost immediately after the event was announced last summer;” “One senator asked to attend with their family;” “A GOP fundraiser close to the White House received dozens of direct messages on social media asking how they could get in;” and “Trump himself has been fielding ticket requests, a person familiar with the event prep said.”

Dana White announced last week that 85,000 tickets will be publicly available for an outdoor viewing experience on the Ellipse just south of the White House grounds. The event will stream on Paramount+ in the US per the usual. 

Organizers are reportedly still determining how the VIP tickets on the South Lawn will be distributed, with a Trump aide quoted as saying, “It’s all very fluid.” Another familiar with planning is said to have warned that “some of those jockeying for seats are likely to come away disappointed.” 

WWE’s Cody Rhodes is still a fan of Travis Scott and is happy that he was involved in his storyline, despite injuring him.

Scott, who was in the storyline involving Rhodes, The Rock, and John Cena, landed a vicious slap on “The American Nightmare” that reportedly busted Rhodes’ eardrum and gave him a black eye. Despite the slap, Rhodes said to Chris Van Vliet on “Insight” that he likes the rapper and is grateful that he gave WWE his time.

“Travis Scott did not hurt me. It looks like he hurt me,” said Rhodes. “I like Travis Scott. I think it’s safe to say at this point I like Travis Scott. I like that he lended us his time and that we had moments with him. I mean, he took a Cross Rhodes. Most people just remember the slap, and I’m going to be on this side of history with it [right side]. I know it wasn’t everyone’s favorite thing. That is not the hardest I’ve ever been slapped. That’s number three.”

Rhodes went on to name two other slaps that he received in his pro wrestling career that were much harder than the one that the rapper landed on him. One unsurprising name from that list was Bob Holly, who was known to take liberties with his peers in the ring, while the other was an unexpected name in Natalya.

“The number one might shock you, but I felt it in both of my heels. I felt it in my feet. I had to plant my feet. It was so hard. Natty Neidhart. Natty Neidhart hit me, it felt like an MLB batter swinging the bat and I walked into it. She leveled me. So, Natty’s one, Hardcore Holly [is] two, Travis Scott, I’d say maybe three,” he added. 

The WWE Champion did not place the blame for his ruptured eardrum and black eye solely on Scott, but also on Cena, Rock, and the singer.