UFC on FOX Sports 1 1 lineup reportedly in jeopardy due to legal snafu

August’s UFC on FOX Sports 1 1 event reportedly could be in trouble due to a legal snafu that affects the card’s international fighters.

According to the Boston Herald, the UFC’s debut show on the new FOX Sports 1 channel faces issues due to a Massachusetts law that bars foreign-born fighters from competing in the state without Social Security numbers.

That could create problems for the Aug. 17 show, which takes place at TD Garden in Boston. Foreign fighters Mauricio Rua and Alistair Overeem are in the main event and co-main event, respectively fighting Chael Sonnen and Travis Browne, and others are part of the undercard.

The law bars foreign-born fighters from hitting the octagon without Social Security numbers. The Social Security Administration allows fighters to get a temporary number after a 10-day grace period, though even then it’s not guaranteed fighters would be cleared for the event.

“This law has been in existence since we legalized mixed martial arts in the commonwealth of Mass­achusetts,” Terrell Harris, spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety, told the newspaper. “It’s been brought to the attention of the UFC more than a few times since we legalized the fighting here. But they’ve chosen basically to ignore the law and hope that they could skirt it somehow.”

Tickets for the show are scheduled to go on sale today. UFC officials haven’t yet publicly commented on the situation.

The UFC made its Mass­achusetts debut in 2010 with UFC 118, a successful show that drew 14,168 attendees and a $2.8 million gate at TD Garden. Foreign fighters such as Demian Maia, Mario Miranda and Andre Winner all competed on the card without issue.

According to the report, Harris said the UFC has petitioned the state for a one-time exception. But state law is clear that officials are prohibited from issuing an MMA license to fighters unless there’s proper documentation.

Stay tuned to MMAjunkie.com for further updates on this story.

For the latest on UFC on FOX Sports 1 1, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Mauricio “Shogun” Rua)