UFC denies Strickland banned from White House fight

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."