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June 14 (UPI) -- The South Lawn of the White House has been turned into a site for cage fights, hosting UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday.

President Donald Trump will be in attendance for the event which is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. EDT. It is the first time a live sporting event will be held on the White House grounds, and it has drawn criticism leading up to the first bell.

The event is purported to be in celebration of the United States' 250th anniversary, which is not until July 4.

However, it coincides with Trump's 80th birthday, which is Sunday. A federal lawsuit from the Public Integrity Project sought to stop the event from happening highlighted this fact as well as the damage being done to the South Lawn, lack of congressional approval and the use of the White House to promote a company that Trump has invested in and is friends with the owner of.

Judge Amit P. Mehta of the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia rejected the lawsuit on Friday.

The Justice Department, defending the event, argued that the plaintiffs could not prove any harm had been done.

The event costs $60 million to put on. UFC President Dana White, who stumped for Trump during his presidential campaign, said the UFC will pay for $700,000 worth of restoration to the South Lawn.

The UFC constructed a large structure, referred to as the Claw, for the event. It is 92 feet tall, 154 feet wide and weighs 600 tons.

Five thousand people are expected to be in attendance on Sunday to watch a fight card headlined by the UFC lightweight championship bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje. There will be seven fights in total.

UFC Freedom 250 will be streamed on Paramount+.

June 14 (UPI) -- One teenager was shot in the foot and four people were stabbed overnight in New York during the celebration of the New York Knicks' first NBA championship in 53 years.

The 17-year-old was shot in the foot, police said, and at least one person has been charged with carrying a gun. Fifteen people have been arrested for various incidents, including a 28-year-old man who has been charged with assault for striking a police officer.

Forty-eight more people have been taken into custody and issued court summonses.

The celebration erupted on the back of the Knicks winning Game 5 of the NBA Finals in San Antonio 94-90, snapping their decades-long championship drought. Fans swarmed Madison Square Garden to watch the game and ultimately celebrate the win.

The series was the first appearance in the Finals by the Knicks since 1999.

As the Knicks clinched victory, people in New York began climbing on light posts and vehicles, lighting school buses on fire, shooting fireworks and spreading across at least 10 city blocks from Madison Square Garden to Times Square.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Sunday that the city will celebrate the Finals win again on Thursday with a ticker-tape parade. The festivities are scheduled to start at 10 a.m. EDT, beginning near Battery Park and moving north toward City Hall. The parade route will go along Broadway and through the Canyon of Heroes.

"As a fan, I haven't wanted to jinx it, but as the mayor, we've been preparing for all these logistics," Mamdani said.

Some city buildings will be lit in Knicks colors, blue and orange, on Thursday, including City Hall.

The Knicks capped off the historic championship run two games after its 13-game playoff winning streak was snapped by San Antonio in Game 3, posting the biggest comeback in Finals history in Game 4 at home and sealing the series on the road.

"I want to say something to New York," said James Dolan, owner of the Knicks. "Hey New York. I'm sorry it took so long. But here we are and hopefully it won't take that long again."