The UFC appears to have borrowed the informal motto of the U.S. Postal Service as its President and CEO Dana White dismissed concerns about the weather leading up to UFC Freedom 250, set to take place on the South Lawn of the White House on June 14.
“Listen, the show goes on on Sunday, no matter what happens. We’re going. I don’t care if it rains, snows,” White said. “I’m sick and tired of hearing about all the weather now.”
“We are fighting on Sunday night on the White House lawn,” White said, adding, “no matter what!”
The National Weather Service forecast for June 14 in Washington, DC, includes a severe thunderstorm watch until 11 p.m. ET, with the chance of scattered showers and wind gusts up to 22 miles per hour.
The event was scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET, but the UFC later announced that it will delay the start of the fights to 9 p.m. ET.
The Weather Channel reported in a social media post that the event faces a 60% chance of thunderstorms and wind gusts of up to 34 miles per hour.
“While the venue’s massive 92-foot overhang will keep the octagon dry, a single lightning strike within eight miles will trigger an automatic 30-minute freeze on the entire event,” the post reads.
The White House pushed back on concerns about severe weather during the event, blasting the Weather Channel’s post as a “clickbait headline” written by a “friendless loser” in a social media post.
“Rain or shine, we’re celebrating our great country no matter what,” the White House said.
The UFC said in a social media post on event day that gates to its fan fest on the nearby Ellipse opened as scheduled but noted “we anticipate inclement weather in the area, so attendees should plan accordingly.”
Secret Service has weather plans
The U.S. Secret Service previously told USA TODAY it has contingency plans, as always, for what to do if storms and lightning strike near the arena while President Donald Trump is in attendance. Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said there will be meteorologists on site, both from the U.S. government and from the UFC.
“We also have the DC Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management that are in real-time coordination with us and the federal partners,” said Guglielmi. “There are weather accommodations that are included in our planning.”
Capital Weather said in a social media post that “damaging” wind gusts and hail are possible, and an “isolated tornado can’t be ruled out.” The most likely window for storms is 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bad weather won’t stop White House UFC fights, organizers say
