UFC denies Strickland banned from White House fight

Strickland is a two-time UFC middleweight champion

>Middleweight 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."

>Trump says Eiffel Tower-like UFC structure may stay

>Strickland 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'" following his title win over Khamzat Chimaev in May.

>Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport