Sean Strickland appeared to be removed from Sunday’s UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House, just days after saying he had been barred from attending.
The UFC’s first-ever event on the White House grounds was held on Sunday, June 14, 2026, as part of the larger Freedom 250 celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence. The card also fell on President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, adding to the unusual atmosphere around the historic South Lawn showcase.
The event got underway after a weather-related delay and featured a seven-fight card staged in a temporary arena built on the White House grounds. UFC had also organized related fan events in Washington, D.C. throughout the weekend, including a press conference at the Lincoln Memorial and a fan festival at the Ellipse.
Strickland had previously claimed on social media that he had been kept out of the weekend festivities.
“The only male American champ banned at the White House because I said Trump is owned by (Benjamin Netanyahu),” Strickland claimed on social media as per MMA Fighting. “That’s not public opinion, it’s fact.”
Dana White, however, publicly denied that Strickland had been excluded from the occasion.
“Everybody’s banned apparently,” White said. “Of course, Sean Strickland isn’t (banned from attending).”
White also made light of the situation with a joke about the fighter’s behavior.
“We don’t want him near any human beings anywhere. (Expletive) shows up at Power Slap, he starts fights. He made it very clear he didn’t want to be part of this event and now apparently he’s banned,” White went on to say.
“Nobody is banned. Nobody’s music is banned. No media members have been banned. The list goes on and on.”
Even so, footage and photos later surfaced showing Strickland being surrounded by police and escorted away from the Fan Festival at the Ellipse. According to early reports and pool coverage from the event, he was taken away by law enforcement and placed into a Park Police van, although the exact reason for the removal was not immediately clear.
Before that happened, the former middleweight champion appeared relaxed and upbeat as he mingled at the pre-fight gathering. But once supporters recognized him, a large crowd quickly formed around him.
Videos shared online captured Strickland asking fans to keep the noise down as excitement around him built.
He then drew even more attention by stepping into a ring set up in the middle of the park, where fans soon packed in around him.
That appears to have been the point when officers stepped in, with several police and security personnel leading him away from the area.
In another clip later posted on social media by Strickland, he seemed to be sitting in the rear of a police or heavily secured vehicle.
“I’m pretty sure I didn’t break a law, like I’m pretty sure. But we might be going to jail, but I’m pretty sure we didn’t break no laws.”
Reports suggested he may have been removed and detained over suspected disorderly conduct, but no official confirmation of an arrest or charge had been issued.