Career Advice & Pro Wrestling Business

The Last Time Donald Trump attended a Sports Event at Madison Square Garden: UFC 309

2026-06-06T21:34:30.847-04:00

Via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

As promised during his October 25 appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, President-elect Donald Trump made good on his pledge to attend UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024—eleven days after his stunning comeback victory in the 2024 presidential election.

The sold-out heavyweight title card, headlined by Jon Jones's third-round stoppage of Stipe Miocic, doubled as a victory lap for Trump's inner circle, transforming the iconic arena into a de facto afterparty complete with cheers of "USA! USA!" and a star-studded entourage that included Elon Musk, Kid Rock, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Trump, who had largely holed up at Mar-a-Lago since the results solidified on November 6, emerged for this rare public outing, striding cageside to a wild ovation just before the main card.

As the broadcast feed cut backstage amid the roar, commentator Jon Anik captured the moment on ESPN+: "Now making his way to the world-famous Octagon, flanked by UFC CEO Dana White, 45 soon to be 47—President-elect Donald Trump!" The jumbotron unveiled a slick hype reel of Trump and running mate J.D. Vance on the campaign trail, from rally podiums to debate stages, culminating in a red screen flashing "45" to "47" with a booming voiceover: "Together we can truly make America great again." In a quick backstage interview, Trump reflected on his survival of an assassination attempt, declaring, "God spared my life for a reason—to restore America to greatness."

President-elect Donald Trump received a nod from music sensation Jelly Roll as he walked to cageside, the country star raising his glass in approval. Joe Rogan, calling the action from the booth, captured the roar's intensity: "I wish the people at home could hear the sound; it is so loud right now. It is always loud when he’s here, but now that he’s won? Now that he’s the president again? Oh my God." His entrance was hailed on air as a victory lap, with Anik noting, "He did it with an emphatic blowout of the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris." White was effusive about Trump that night: "Donald Trump is tougher and more badass than anybody. You can only pray that you’re a quarter of the man that Donald Trump was when a guy tried to take seven shots at his head with a high-powered rifle with a fucking scope on it." Flanked by a beaming White—chewing gum and grinning ear to ear—with Elon Musk in a baseball cap trailing just behind and House Speaker Mike Johnson to his side, Trump emerged once again to the thumping strains of "American Badass," igniting waves of "USA! USA!" chants that echoed through the arena. Johnson, described in one report as "having the time of his life," beaming like a kid at his first fight night. Kid Rock reflected on the walk to the cage: "Everybody was together." To him, the moment felt like a "rebirth of a nation."

Some claimed scattered "Fuck Joe Biden" shouts pierced the din as well. Trump embraced Joe Rogan in a hug before the main card, the podcaster who had sealed his last-minute endorsement whispering something that drew a laugh. A fan unfurling a Trump flag bearing the iconic image of him raising his bloodied fist in defiance after the Butler shooting flashed on the jumbotron, drawing fresh applause. As the Village People's "YMCA" blasted over the loudspeakers, Trump obliged with his signature arm-wave dance moves, pumping up the crowd like a rally encore. Bo Nickal, true to form, remained undefeated at 7-0 with a unanimous decision over Paul Craig, his grappling clinic unfolding under the watchful eye of the president-elect.

After defending his heavyweight title with a vicious third-round spinning back kick to Miocic's rib cage followed by ground strikes, Jon Jones broke into the "Trump dance"—a fist-pump shimmy—and pointed straight at cageside. Trump smiled broadly and pointed back. Jones first thanked Jesus Christ in his Octagon interview, then shouted out the guest of honor: "I want to give a big, big thank you to President Trump being here tonight," igniting a massive cheer and "USA! USA!" chant. Trump stood and clapped vigorously. Jones was thrilled to share the spotlight: "To see Dana up on stage at the election, I feel like that moment just elevated the whole sport. Americans, people from around the world were like, 'Who’s the bald-headed dude talking? That represents all of us.'" He proclaimed to the crowd, "I’m proud to be a great American champion. I’m proud to be a Christian American champion." Jones then presented Trump with a few moments cageside to hoist the gleaming belt, the president-elect draping it over his shoulder to thunderous approval.

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House

The UFC's Explosive Growth During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2026-06-02T13:36:04.372-04:00

Via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

In just a few weeks, gatherings of any kind were off the table. In March 2020, as the world grappled with the coronavirus pandemic, sports leagues across the United States canceled their seasons and entertainment came to a standstill until further notice. Even sports that lent themselves more readily to social distancing, such as NASCAR and the PGA Tour, canceled events just days later. UFC President Dana White spoke directly with President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence about the unfolding crisis. Appearing on ESPN—a key broadcast partner for the UFC—White recounted their advice: “They’re taking this very seriously. They’re saying ‘Be cautious, be careful, but live your life and stop panicking.’”

Rather than succumbing to panic, White explained, “We’re actually getting out there and working with doctors and health officials and the government to figure out how we can keep the sport safe and how we can continue to put on events.”

The UFC was determined to keep fighting. White and the organization believed they were uniquely positioned to continue because of the sport’s lean operational footprint: just two fighters and a referee inside the cage, three judges ringside, and a skeleton crew of production and medical staff. White vowed to screen every fighter for coronavirus symptoms before allowing them to compete and issued strict company-wide protocols for employees and athletes to minimize the risk of infection and transmission.

Speaking to the Associated Press on March 14, 2020, White emphasized that nothing had changed about the UFC’s core priority: “We’re always looking out for the health and safety of our fans, our athletes—whatever it might be. This thing is going on, we’re going to do the same thing. We’re going to make sure that two healthy athletes are competing, and these guys are good to go.”

UFC 249 did take place as promised on May 9, 2020, becoming the first major live sporting event in the United States since the pandemic shutdown in March. The card unfolded inside an empty VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, with Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, having classified professional sports productions (without spectators) as essential services just days earlier.

During the ESPN+ broadcast, a pre-recorded video message from President Donald Trump was aired: “I’m standing in a very important spot—right outside the Oval Office, and you’re looking at the White House behind me. It’s an honor to be here, and it’s an honor to salute you. I want to congratulate Dana White and the UFC. They’re gonna have a big match tonight. We love it. We think it’s important. Get the sports leagues back. Let’s play. You do the social distancing and whatever else you have to do, but we need sports. We want our sports back. Congratulations to the entire UFC organization.” Trump later called White personally during the event and told him, “I knew you were the guy. I knew you’d get it done.”

The UFC experienced explosive growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dana White later revealed that the organization’s business had “grown something crazy, like 77 percent” at a time when virtually every other major sport remained shuttered. Relying on its in-house production team and a willingness to operate under strict private protocols, the UFC became one of the only live sporting options available during the darkest months of lockdown.

For many conservatives, the promotion’s refusal to bow to sweeping public-health restrictions turned it into a cultural lightning rod and a symbol of defiance. Speaking to the Associated Press in May 2020, White was unequivocal: “We will keep finding a way to put on the fights. I’m in the fight business. I’ve been doing this for over twenty years, and this stuff happens to me every weekend—obviously not at this level.” With traditional sports seasons canceled or postponed, millions discovered the UFC for the first time.

As Jonathan Charbonneau told The New Yorker in 2021, “The sport was there for me to watch in COVID and stuff like that, when I had nothing else to do. It gave me something to look forward to, something to do when I couldn’t even leave my house.”

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House

What's Up, GOP?! The Story of Dana White speaking at the 2016 Republican National Convention

2026-05-25T17:51:26.555-04:00

Via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

During a rally, Trump suggested having an evening of winners, such as sports celebrities speaking at the Republican National Convention instead of politicians. As reported in the New York Times, Trump stated: "We're going to do it a little different, if it's OK. I'm thinking about getting some of the great sports people who like me a lot." Trump lamented that "we don't see winners anymore. We have a bunch of clowns running this country."

After referencing a Bobby Knight endorsement and mentioning well-known celebrities like Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger, Trump wanted to make sure the crowd recognized the next name: "Dana White—you know Dana White? UFC. Guy's a champion. These are champions." Dana White also saw Trump as a winner, as he contributed $1 million to his campaign. While many celebrities and sports organizations shied away from endorsing Trump, White and the UFC provided the pop-culture relevancy that was sorely needed.

The Republican National Convention in July did indeed feature Dana White as part of its celebrity group, listed by the Plain Dealer as the most notable among a field that included Natalie Gulbis, an LPGA golfer, and Antonio Sabato Jr., a General Hospital cast member, movie star, and participant in Celebrity Wife Swap. White first learned of a potential invitation through a New York Times reporter inquiring if he was going to agree to speak. White responded that Trump hadn't called him and he didn't know anything about it.

Trump finally called White, and as White recalled, Trump told him, "If you don't want to do this, I completely understand, but I'd be honored if you speak at the Republican convention." White let Trump know he was honored to be asked and agreed immediately. White told Rolling Stone: "And everybody—everybody—told me not to do it. But you know, this guy's been a good guy to me. I'm not going to say no." Later in the year, White called Trump "the kind of crook that does it by the rules."

White strode to the stage and opened with, "What's up, GOP?" and quickly acknowledged that many people were probably wondering what he was doing there. On identifying potential pugilists, White said: "I know fighters. Ladies and gentlemen, Donald Trump is a fighter. And I know he will fight for this country." White was appreciative of his friendship with Trump: "I wanted to show up and tell you about my friend, Donald Trump—the Donald Trump that I know." Trump has always reached out to him and supported his success, according to White.

White received support of his own for a presidential run when he returned in August to Maine for his reality series Lookin' for a Fight. Appearing to scout talent at a small promotion in Bangor, fans asked him to autograph "Dana White for President" signs.

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House

When Tito Ortiz was fired by Donald Trump on Celebrity Apprentice

2026-05-24T19:25:55.232-04:00

Via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

An offshoot of The Apprentice, now in the form of Celebrity Apprentice, began in 2008. It was time to freshen up the concept, and what better way than with B-list celebrities?

Along with Season One standout Omarosa and people like Piers Morgan and Stephen Baldwin, former UFC champion Tito Ortiz would join the cast. Ortiz was the project manager in Week 3 of the show and, in winning, got to pick the charity for a donation of his choice: $20,000 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

When Tito Ortiz was fired in Week 9 of the show, People magazine celebrated with a "Finally!" headline. Ortiz stumbled with a presentation in the boardroom to executives from Redbook and Dove: "The demographics we did have were ladies ranging from the age of 20, or excuse me, 30 to 59, which most country folk, ladies, that would love Trace Adkins's, you know, kind of push the product exactly."

Ortiz's nervousness and word salad were not lost on Trump and led to his dismissal: "You know the thing that surprised me? I've watched you fight many times, and you don't look nervous. You just get in the ring and rip somebody apart. But you looked nervous at that presentation."

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House

When Colby Covington visited the White House: "Promises made. Promises kept".

2026-05-19T09:41:39.579-04:00

Via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

With help from Dana White, Colby Covington was invited to visit the White House in August 2018. That year, the traditional visit of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles had been canceled by President Trump due to players kneeling during the national anthem.

Per a statement by Donald Trump, "The Philadelphia Eagles are unable to come to the White House with their full team to be celebrated tomorrow. They disagree with their President because he insists that they proudly stand for the National Anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country."

Covington compared his visit to the canceled White House visit of the Eagles: "I told everybody I was going to make the welterweight division great again, and now I'm going to celebrate how a real American should celebrate winning a world title and that's going to the White House to see Mr. Donald Trump and put this on his desk, unlike the Filth-a-delphia Eagles disrespecting our flag and kneeling for the national anthem."

Many sports leagues and champion teams at the time were not sure what to do. The 2017 Chicago Cubs tried to split the baby in half in June of that year: Manager Joe Maddon and some Chicago Cubs players would visit the White House, but it would not be an official visit. The trip would be voluntary for players on the World Series-winning team and was said to be done out of respect for the Ricketts family, who owned the Cubs and had supported Trump's candidacy.

Per Covington: "Like Donald Trump always says: Promises made. Promises kept." Covington brought his suit and a MAGA hat for the occasion. Covington shared it was like "an out-of-body experience" for him. When Covington was allowed to enter the Oval Office, he couldn't believe it and felt more nerves than he did during a fight. Covington explained how approachable and down-to-earth Trump was.

Trump spent a half hour with Covington and "told us some funny stories; he likes chicks, he likes wrestling, he likes MMA. And he was just telling us stories and just being a regular guy. He's down-to-earth." Following the meeting, Covington tweeted: "Pleasure to finally meet you Mr. President. Thank you for always putting America first!"

The championship UFC belt Covington had gifted Trump was valued at $650 by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics under "Gifts & Reimbursements" disclosures later released. A relative steal if the belt would hit the sports memorabilia collector's market.

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House

How Glenn Carano (Gina's father) kept UFC out of Vegas and later approved it: "I'm never going to like this sport"

2026-05-18T09:45:19.468-04:00

Via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

The UFC shifted its focus and aspirations for fortune westward to Las Vegas, first securing regulatory approval from the Nevada State Athletic Commission and then staging shows there.

The NSAC held workshop meetings in Reno and Las Vegas on rules and sanctions in May 2001. Glenn T. Carano met with representatives of the sport at the Silver Legacy: John McCarthy, Jeff Blatnick, and former heavyweight champion Maurice Smith.

Carano had softened his position, as reported by the Reno Gazette-Journal: "How I feel about the sport is it gives athletes a chance to demonstrate some incredible skills. Some of those skills are extremely dangerous. That's the bottom line." In reflection on attending the show in Iowa, Carano said, "Back then, I thought the sport was somewhat barbaric."

Marc Ratner was also more optimistic: "It's certainly better than it was seven, eight years ago when it was no holds barred. At one time, you could be down and get kicked. If we are going to go forward, we'd like to use some of our judges and referees."

Carano, commissioner of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, felt that "I'm never going to like this sport, and it's not what I consider a good athletic event, but I am friends with Lorenzo Fertitta. He believes in it, and I will vote for it."

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House

Before MSG's Jim (James) Dolan was beloved and the UFC published his number

2026-05-16T20:55:01.646-04:00

Via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

In February 1996, Cablevision—a 50 percent owner of Madison Square Garden and helmed by Jim Dolan—succumbed to mounting government pressure and dropped UFC pay-per-view events from its New York-area systems, becoming just the second major U.S. provider to do so after InterMedia in San Francisco.

Serving some 600,000 households on Long Island alone, plus swaths of Westchester County and Connecticut, the decision rippled far. Peter Low, Cablevision's vice president of programming, told Newsday, "This is an event devoted to people beating the life out of each other… The government has called on media companies to act more responsibly to respond to violence on television programs."

The move came amid a grassroots protest campaign launched weeks earlier by a Connecticut religious organization decrying the UFC's brutality. Low noted that a typical UFC event garnered 10,000 to 15,000 buys on Cablevision's systems—roughly 5 percent of the national total.

In retaliation, the UFC fired back with a full-page ad in Newsday, urging fans to flood Dolan's personal office line with complaints. As Elaine McCarthy recounted in the book No Holds Barred, Bob Meyrowitz "got pissed off and spent $10,000 on a spur-of-the-moment full-page ad in New York’s Newsday lambasting Cablevision and its chairman, Jim Dolan. He put in [Dolan]’s personal phone number. ‘Tell them you want your UFC’ was what I think the headline was. Bob was pissed and the guy had to have his phone number changed."

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House

When UFC's Dana White first went nuclear on an MMA reporter

2026-05-13T12:51:43.057-04:00

Via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

By 2009, one of MMA's most respected reporters, Loretta Hunt of Sherdog, was eviscerated in a video blog by Dana White in protest of an article on the UFC restricting who could obtain media credentials on fight nights: "I just heard there was another absolutely fucking retarded story written by Loretta Hunt. Hey Loretta. If you are going to write a story, you fucking moron, at least make sure it's fucking true and you have some facts, and if you're going to put some fucking quotes in there, put some people who at least have the fucking balls to put their fucking name on it. Whoever gave you that quote is a pussy and a fucking ‘f’ (the f here is not White’s preferred curse word but derogatory slang for a gay person) and a fucking liar, you dumb bitch." White concluded the video by putting up his middle finger and saying, "Fuck you, Loretta Hunt."

White posted a follow-up video a couple of days later apologizing to the LGBTQ+ community: "The last thing that I would ever want anybody to think about me or think is cool is to go out and attack somebody because of their sexual orientation. That was not my intention. That's not the way I said it. I apologize for anybody that I've offended or hurt." White clarified that Hunt was his only target and did not apologize to her.

While apologetic in speaking to outlets like ESPN and the Los Angeles Times, he was still defiant: "You know what? The thing that sucks is that video rant, the feedback I got was not negative. It was overwhelmingly positive from our fans. It was, 'Yeah, you go, Dana. You're the man.'" White told the Canadian Press that he was upset about how much coverage the incident received: "In the United States, every single media outlet picked that thing up and carried it—people that won't even cover us."

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House

Sean Strickland: "President Trump, you're the man. It is a damn travesty what they are doing to you".

2026-05-10T09:18:00.005-04:00

Via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

Trump's presence lit up the Prudential Center throughout UFC 302, with the arena's video board flashing him repeatedly and sparking waves of "We want Donald!" and "USA! USA!" chants that reverberated off the walls, drowning out any pockets of dissent.

In the co-main event, Sean Strickland—a fighter who had renounced his neo-Nazi youth—edged Paulo Costa via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) before posing for a photo with Trump and commandeering the mic for an endorsement: "President Trump, you’re the man. It is a damn travesty what they are doing to you, my man. Let’s get it done."

Though Strickland had distanced himself from swastika-tattooed extremism, his barbs at marginalized groups endured, branding LGBTQ+ people an "infection," an "abnormality," "everything wrong with the world," and "scum of humanity"—rants the UFC largely sidestepped or chalked up to provocation.

Trump stuck around until Islam Makhachev defended his lightweight title against Dustin Poirier in the main event wrapped around 1:20 a.m., departing the floor to fresh cheers from stragglers.

In the post-event presser, Dana White fielded a probing question on any qualms about spotlighting the newly convicted Trump; he fired back with a knowing smirk, "How do you think it went tonight?" When the reporter admitted the crowd had responded with enthusiasm, White leaned in: "Probably a good idea to show up tonight."

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House

How New York City's Mayor Rudy Guiliani Suppported a ban of the UFC and MMA in 1997

2026-05-04T17:20:00.001-04:00

Via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

When the UFC sought to return to New York State on February 7, 1997, for UFC XII in Niagara Falls—with 5,000 tickets already sold and $150,000 in projected revenue—the state abruptly banned the event, forcing a last-minute relocation to Dothan, Alabama.

Planned shows in New York City on March 28 and later at Long Island's Nassau Coliseum (home of the Islanders) were similarly scrapped. Amid the chaos, UFC rival Battlecade Extreme Fighting's proposed bout at the Park Slope Armory in Brooklyn sparked fresh media intrigue in the newly legalized spectacle.

The New York Times splashed headlines like "Outcast Gladiators Find a Home: New York," soon followed by "Giuliani to Try to Prevent 'Extreme Fighting' Match" and "Seasoned Lobbyist Gave No Quarter in Quest to Legitimize Bloody Sport." State Senator Roy Goodman, a Manhattan Republican, decried it as "a form of human cockfighting, the worst form of subhuman, animalistic behavior," according to the Post-Standard.

Governor Pataki and New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani threw their weight behind the ban, with Pataki facing backlash for his initial approval and swiftly backpedaling. SEG's Royce Isaacs remained optimistic, telling reporters, "It’s a great fighting state, a great boxing state. We wanted to make it a great ultimate fighting state."

Meyrowitz felt he had no reason to worry—until he did. As recounted in No Holds Barred, the producer was at a breakfast fundraiser for Mayor Rudy Giuliani when the mayor's chief counsel approached him with a cryptic warning: "We’ve got a problem. You’ll find out, and I’m just giving you a heads up." The fragile new law legalizing MMA in New York had been repealed overnight.

The New York State Athletic Commission had swiftly imposed a draconian rulebook, mandating boxing gloves, headgear, and groin protectors for fighters, while banning strikes on downed opponents—a neutering of the raw spectacle fans craved.

Meyrowitz was incredulous: "I said, ‘Well, that’s not true because the only one it would affect is me, and they haven’t gotten me this rulebook.’" He later fumed, "The only time in the history of New York State that a law has been repealed using emergency power without a 30-day waiting period was the UFC."

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House

When the UFC debuted in New York State: The King of the Streets vs. The Polar Bear

2026-05-03T17:24:00.002-04:00

Via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

The UFC made its New York State debut on September 8, 1995, with UFC VII: The Brawl in Buffalo, packing 9,000 fans into Buffalo's Memorial Auditorium. Pay-per-view host Bruce Beck set the scene with flair: "We're in Western New York on the shores of Lake Erie in the City of Buffalo on a cool September evening." In the superfight, Ken Shamrock—"The World's Most Dangerous Man"—defended his Superfight championship against the "Russian Bear," Oleg Taktarov, under rules still taking shape. Early on, Shamrock drew a stern warning for illegal kicks while wearing shoes. Taktarov acquired a deep gash above his eye that poured blood through the grueling 30-minute round, but a three-minute overtime yielded no finish. With no judges on hand, officials declared a draw—prompting boos from the crowd. Meanwhile, in the eight-man tournament, Marco Ruas—"The King of the Streets"—claimed victory by methodically dismantling his larger foe, Paul "The Polar Bear" Varelans, with relentless low kicks that evoked a lumberjack felling a redwood. When Varelans crumpled, Ruas swarmed with ground strikes until referee John McCarthy intervened at 13:17 of the first round, leaving the bloodied giant dazed and done.

This marked the second—and final—UFC event for ring announcer Michael Buffer, whose commitments to World Championship Wrestling would soon sideline him. The promotion wasted no time filling the void: Michael's half-brother, Bruce Buffer—a former kickboxer, Taekwondo black belt, and poker pro—debuted at UFC VIII, went full-time with UFC XIII, and has since become the definitive voice of the Octagon, arguably eclipsing his sibling in fight fans' eyes.

In the wake of UFC VII in Buffalo, backlash mounted swiftly. Arizona Senator John McCain wrote a letter to New York Governor George Pataki, calling it "disappointing that New York State officials could not prevent this appalling event from taking place," as reported in the Daily News.

A spokesman for Pataki countered that the governor had sought to block the UFC's show but lacked the clear authority to do so under existing laws. In response, UFC executives lobbied aggressively for formal oversight by the New York State Athletic Commission, pledging a series of future events in the state's northern reaches to deliver a meaningful economic jolt.

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House

UFC 264: When Dana White and the UFC first embraced Donald Trump after January 6th

2026-05-02T21:33:00.001-04:00

Via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

After leaving the White House, Donald Trump found himself persona non grata in much of the sports world. The PGA of America stripped Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, of the 2022 PGA Championship days after January 6; the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews soon made clear that Trump Turnberry would not host another Open Championship in the foreseeable future.

On July 1, 2021, the Manhattan District Attorney unsealed a 15-count indictment against the Trump Organization and its CFO Allen Weisselberg for tax fraud. One place, however, never turned its back. Dana White kept Trump’s cageside seat open and waiting. On July 10, 2021, at UFC 264 in a sold-out T-Mobile Arena, Conor McGregor suffered a gruesome leg break in the final seconds of his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier. Trump—flanked by Donald Jr.—arrived fashionably late to the Las Vegas venue, slipping in for the start of the main card. As he made his way to his seat, actor Mel Gibson, seated nearby with his three sons, rose and delivered a crisp military salute that the broadcast cameras caught in full.

Dana White personally escorted President Trump backstage, where Jorge Masvidal waited just around the corner. As Trump pulled Masvidal in for a hug, White grinned and said, “I swear to God, he was just talking about you.” Trump pointed at the fighter and boomed, “Great champ! Give him a lot of money!”

White later clarified that Trump had come strictly as a fan: “Just two friends who are fight fans watching a fight.” The former president wasn’t shown on the ESPN+ broadcast—a glaring oversight White blamed on his own team. “We were getting ready to show him right between the co-main and main events,” White explained, “but there was some kind of glitch in the truck. Then the Conor fight ended up ending in the second round, so we never got a chance. Let me tell you—massive fuck-up by my production team.” They had a late contingency to feature Trump between rounds of the main event, but McGregor’s gruesome leg break made that moot. White called it a shame, as Trump’s entrance had drawn the entire arena to its feet, phones aloft in a wave of cheers. “Extremely positive,” White described the reception, though cell-phone videos captured a mix of applause and scattered boos.

To quash rumors of political meddling, White was blunt: “Nobody tells me how to run a show. Politics aside, when a former president shows up—whether it was Obama, whether it was Trump, whether it was Jimmy Carter—we would respect the former President of the United States.” He echoed the sentiment four years later on 60 Minutes: “I am a U.S. citizen. Biden was my president. Trump is my president. I was at the [Trump] inauguration, and I was sitting behind all the ex-presidents… President Obama turned around and shook my hand and said, ‘Congratulations on all your success.’ If President Obama called and said, ‘I’d like to come see a fight,’ we’d say, ‘Buy some tickets and good luck to you’? No! The sitting president or the ex-president of the United States wants to come to your event, you treat them with respect.”

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House

Apprentice reboot on Amazon? Learn how the Apprentice with Donald Trump came to be

2026-05-01T13:58:00.000-04:00

Via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

America was all in on reality television in the early 2000s. Following the success of Survivor, all sorts of variations on the theme followed. Mark Burnett, the producer behind Survivor, was developing ideas for his next project.

As detailed in Patrick Radden Keefe's 2022 book Rogues, Burnett rented Central Park's Wollman Rink—then operated by Donald Trump—for a live broadcast of the Survivor Season 4 finale in 2002. Trump attended the event, seated in the front row with Melania Knauss.

Invoking the flair of Michael Buffer announcing the Mike Tyson-Leon Spinks fight, Burnett addressed the crowd: “Welcome, everybody, to Trump Wollman Skating Rink. The Trump Wollman Skating Rink is a fine facility, built by Mr. Donald Trump. Thank you, Mr. Trump. Because the Trump Wollman Skating Rink is the place we are tonight and we love being at the Trump Wollman Skating Rink…”

Later, in recounting the evening, Burnett noted that Trump approached him afterward and called him “a genius.” The encounter contributed to the development of The Apprentice, created by Burnett and starring Trump, which premiered on NBC in 2004.

The first season averaged 20.7 million viewers per episode. The elimination of contestants, accompanied by Trump's line “You're fired,” often became a topic of discussion the following day. In an interview with CanWest News Service, Trump remarked on the show's impact: “There are words I didn't even know about a year and a half ago—words like 'ratings,' 'demographics.' None of that mattered to me. Now, all of a sudden, I'm studying them.”

By the second season, which aired later in 2004, viewership in the key 18-49 demographic had declined by 13 percent.

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House

When Donald Trump served as "Cupid" in making a love connection at Affliction MMA

2026-04-29T22:04:00.000-04:00

Via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

In what may be a first, Trump had the opportunity to play cupid and do some matchmaking at the first Affliction MMA event. Trump was interviewed twice by Lindsay Clubine for Extra, who had just joined the show. The first time Clubine interviewed Trump was when he was entering the venue. Trump seemed in a rush when asked who his favorite fighter was: "I have a lot of favorite fighters, but we'll see how Fedor does tonight." Once seated, Clubine interviewed Trump again, who said in regards to the inaugural event, "It's a tremendous success. We are very happy about it."

In regards to the fighting that evening, Trump said, "The fighting's been great. You look great." Clubine asked if it would take over the UFC, and Trump said, "I think it probably will. All the fighters want to be with us. I think it probably will take over."

When asked by Clubine if he's ever been in the ring, Trump shifted his focus from looking at the camera and stared more intently at Clubine: "I'm a lover, not a fighter." Trump had the chance to spotlight Tito Ortiz (sitting with girlfriend Jenna Jameson) as a celebrity on the forthcoming 7th season of Celebrity Apprentice and potentially joining Affliction.

Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz was in town for a game and attended the show. Trump chatted him up and later returned with Lindsay Clubine, saying, "This is Lindsay, she's single." The two married the next year and they currently have three children.

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House

The one time UFC distanced itself from Donald Trump after January 6th

2026-04-27T19:42:00.007-04:00

Via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

The UFC celebrated its 25th anniversary with UFC 25 Years in Short, a series of 25 mini-documentaries that premiered weekly on UFC Fight Pass beginning in September 2018.

On November 14, 2018, the series released Combatant in Chief: The Story of Donald Trump’s History in Combat Sports, directed by Adam Condal and Michael Hayden.

In the episode, Dana White says of Trump, “Donald Trump is a visionary. This guy is a fighter, an entrepreneur. If he sees something and he gets it, he’s not going to be afraid of what anyone else thinks.”

In the official preview clip, Trump himself declares, “Well, there is a fighter’s mentality, whether you’re in the UFC or whether or not you’re president. People like Dana White have that—and they have that in spades.”

Although the episode page still exists on the UFC website, the full video was quietly removed from Fight Pass and YouTube in the days following January 6, 2021.

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House

How an assassination attempt on Donald Trump brought him closer to Dana White, Joe Rogan & Ari Emanuel

2026-04-25T21:16:00.000-04:00

Via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

Dana White recounted a raw, heartfelt exchange with Donald Trump in the immediate aftermath of the, assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, during a June 24 interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored. White urged his friend to reconsider the perils of the campaign: "Why are you doing this? Stop." Trump, grazed by a bullet that pierced his ear and killed one rallygoer, shot back: "I can’t quit. You don’t ever quit. You never quit."

White, visibly moved, told Morgan that Trump's instinctive reaction—raising his bloodied fist and shouting "Fight!" amid Secret Service chaos—embodied a masculine ideal: "The way Trump reacted to the assassination attempt, every man hopes that’s the way you would react."

White confessed he pleaded with Trump repeatedly, "I told him to stop so many times. It’s just like, ‘You have such a good life, and you could do all these other things.’" Yet Trump remained steadfast, rooted in a profound faith: "But the thing is, with President Trump, he believes in God, and he’s very religious… He believes that, to his core, that God has spared his life to be the president and do the things that he’s going to do over the next four years."

White hailed him as the epitome of resilience: "The next day, he went to Milwaukee [for the RNC]. The next day. I mean, there are people who have been shot at and not killed that won’t leave their house, you know, and then there’s PTSD and lots of different things that can happen to you mentally."

Ari Emanuel donated the legal maximum of $929,600 to Kamala Harris's election efforts through her Victory Fund. Days after the July 13 assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, Emanuel placed a personal call to check on the former president's well-being—their first conversation since Trump's 2024 campaign launch. Trump, grazed by a bullet in the ear, expressed genuine appreciation for the gesture.

Joe Rogan had long resisted diving into overtly political content, repeatedly declining invitations to host Donald Trump on his podcast despite persistent lobbying from the campaign and Dana White.

Rogan, who had interviewed figures across the spectrum—from Bernie Sanders to Alex Jones—insisted his show was for "organic conversations," not partisan cheerleading, and once told Lex Fridman in July 2022 that he had no interest in "helping" Trump.

The turning point came on July 13, 2024, when a gunman grazed Trump's ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania in an assassination attempt. Rogan called it "bananas" and a "Black Mirror episode".

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House

Revolting, disgusting, turn-your-head bloodbath: Enter the Ultimate Fighting Championship

2026-04-23T16:09:00.000-04:00

Via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

Just a couple of years after Trump wound down his high-profile boxing promotions in Atlantic City, a new combat spectacle burst onto the scene from the West: the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). UFC officials boldly claimed to the Irish Independent that one of their fighters could "take Mike Tyson and twist him into a pretzel."

While Tyson—the self-proclaimed "baddest man on the planet"—was serving a six-year prison sentence at the Indiana Youth Center for a rape conviction, the UFC spotlighted grapplers like Ken Shamrock, whom ABC News would soon dub "the world's most dangerous man." Dismissed as spectacle rather than sport, the UFC made its controversial debut on November 12, 1993, at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado, as a joint venture between Semaphore Entertainment Group (SEG)—a pay-per-view pioneer with funding by the Bertelsmann Group and run by Bob Meyrowitz—and WOW Promotions, the company founded by advertising executive Art Davie and Brazilian jiu-jitsu master Rorion Gracie to bring their "War of the Worlds" tournament concept to life. (In a quirky footnote, Davie had roomed with Donald Trump in the winter and fall of 1962 at the New York Military Academy.)

The event courted controversy from the outset by design: Promotional materials billed it as "the most brutal, barbaric event in television history." Meyrowitz told the Associated Press, "It’s what sells. Violence is what the people want to see." One thousand complimentary tickets were given away to help fill the 17,000 seat arena. It was scaled for 4,000 spectators that evening so that it didn’t look empty to viewers at home. Conan the Barbarian film producer and UFC consultant John Milius echoed the sentiment to the Los Angeles Times: "Everything is virtual reality or something like that. This is real. This is the real thing."

At the inaugural UFC event, Royce Gracie showcased the potency of his family's Brazilian jiu-jitsu legacy by submitting Art Jimmerson—the lone boxer in the tournament, sporting just one glove—in his opening bout, then claiming the whole prize with victories that included a semifinal rear naked choke on Ken Shamrock.

Royce's brother Rorion Gracie explained the event's ethos to the Leesville Daily Leader: "The idea behind UFC was to dispel myths [about] what worked and what didn’t work in martial arts. Is karate better than kung fu? Is taekwondo better than boxing? Is grappling better than judo? How do we know when the rules are so different? We put on a tournament with no rules… everything goes. No time limit, no judges… fighters enter and we lock the door. Two men go in, only one comes out."

In a 2007 Associated Press interview, Shamrock recalled the crowd's fury after Patrick Smith tapped out to his ankle lock: "They were throwing things at me. They were so mad that I had a hard time getting out of the arena. Can you believe it? I broke his ankle and they wanted more."

Art Davie describes the fans in attendance as “white, male and rowdy” in his book Is This Legal?: The Inside Story of the First UFC from the Man Who Created It.

Denver columnist Dick Kreck captured the backlash in the Rocky Mountain News, writing, "(UFC 1) was a revolting, disgusting, turn-your-head bloodbath. Naturally, there will be a second Ultimate Fighting Championship."

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House

What patriots do? How an 0-1 MMA fighter became the first January 6th rioter to plead guilty for assault

2026-04-22T21:43:00.000-04:00

Via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

Scott Kevin “Wildman” Fairlamb (0-1 as a professional) became the first January 6 rioter to plead guilty to assaulting a law-enforcement officer. On November 10, 2021, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth sentenced Fairlamb to 41 months in federal prison. Video evidence showed Fairlamb among the very first wave to breach the Capitol’s west terrace scaffolding.

Wielding a collapsible police baton he had seized from an officer, he screamed repeatedly to the crowd behind him: “What patriots do? We fuckin’ disarm them and then we storm the fuckin’ Capitol!”. Moments later, after temporarily exiting the building, Fairlamb charged back and delivered a closed-fist punch to the helmet of a Metropolitan Police Officer, staggering the officer.

In sentencing remarks reported by the Associated Press, Judge Lamberth called the conduct “such a serious offense… an affront to society and to the law, to have the Capitol overrun and the function of government stopped.” He described the assault as a blow struck “in the heart of democracy.”

On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued a sweeping pardon to over 1,500 individuals charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, including Scott Kevin "Wildman" Fairlamb.

Fairlamb, sentenced to 41 months in November 2021, later framed his actions as "self-defense" in a September 2023 appearance on the Champ and the Tramp podcast with former UFC champion Frankie Edgar. Wearing a "Kill Your Local Pedophile" T-shirt, Fairlamb expressed some remorse in his 2021 sentencing statement, telling Judge Royce Lamberth, "I truly regret my actions that day. I have nothing but remorse. My life got pulled out from under me, and it’s no one’s fault but myself." Yet on Edgar's show, he struck a defiant tone while recounting the chaos, claiming he intervened after seeing "protestors being pepper sprayed randomly": "Oh fuck no, I’m not going to let that shit happen to anybody. I don’t care… people got forced into a situation and it wasn’t handled correctly."

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House

A look at FBI Director Kash Patel's awkward first call with field agents, suggests UFC training

2026-04-21T21:18:00.003-04:00

Via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

In late February 2025, newly sworn-in FBI Director Kash Patel floated the idea of bringing in UFC trainers to enhance agents' martial arts and self-defense skills during his first videoconference call with supervisors from the bureau's 55 field offices.

Patel, a recent UFC enthusiast, credited Deputy Director Dan Bongino—a former podcaster and fellow fan—for convincing him to try mixed martial arts training himself and pursue a potential partnership with the organization.

While some agents dismissed the proposal as "wacky" and "surreal," a UFC official told Reuters that the league was "not aware of any information regarding UFC and FBI training." A former Justice Department official was more critical, telling Reuters, "There is training the FBI receives in physical altercations. If Kash Patel believed that should be beefed up, the answer is not to go to Donald Trump’s best friend, who runs the UFC. It’s clearly motivated by the glitz and glamour show, and Trump’s friend."

Jody Weis, a former FBI special agent in charge and ex-superintendent of the Chicago Police Department, offered a more positive take: "You know, I actually do like it. I probably wouldn’t have made it my first call to the field offices, but I like the idea." Weis emphasized the value of incorporating Brazilian jiu-jitsu ground-fighting techniques into existing programs, noting that many real-world altercations end up on the ground.

Patel’s passion for the UFC would cause controversy in additional ways later that year- there were questions as to why he was using a $60 million FBI jet to attend the UFC (along with other non-work related events like pro wrestling matches, hockey games and hunting trips) with his girlfriend, singer Alexis Wilkins. Field agents had begun calling him the “Make-a-Wish director.”

While given his role, Patel is required by the executive branch to use the FBI plane for personal travel, he is required to pay back the equivalent cost of a commercial airline ticket.

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House

We are all fighters: Exploring the UFC's history of supporting the LGBTQ community

2026-04-20T21:21:00.001-04:00

Via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

In 2013, the UFC asked the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada if there was a cause that it could support. According to Lawrence Epstein in an interview with USA Today, it was HIV awareness: "We were told that one of the biggest issues they're dealing with is HIV awareness in young people." With half of new HIV infections in the U.S. occurring in persons under 30, UFC fans were a desirable target market. Epstein said: "The under-35 demographic is the UFC's demographic. No other sport in America reaches these people like we do... We're asking young people to show themselves and their partners the same respect our fighters show their opponents."

The campaign was deemed Protect Yourself at All Times. The CEO of the center told USA Today: "It's probably not without risks for them. But they understand that there is a real urgency to this in all communities, and they've quite willingly stepped up to the plate. It's a far less safe cause to get behind than something like breast cancer." UFC fighters Forrest Griffin and Liz Carmouche would highlight the regular HIV tests they undergo before fights.

UFC 200: Tate vs. Nunes would be the final UFC event under Zuffa ownership at the brand-new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 9, 2016. The main event featured Amanda Nunes—the first openly gay UFC champion—defeating Miesha Tate for the women’s bantamweight title with a first-round rear-naked choke. Nunes snapped sharp punches into Tate’s face, opened a cut, dropped her, took the back, rained down heavy shots, and then sank in the choke to force the tap at 3:16. “We Are All Fighters” merchandise was sold throughout the arena to support victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando three weeks earlier; several fighters wore the shirt during their walks to the Octagon.

UFC vice president of public relations Dave Sholler told reporters afterward, “To have our first openly gay champion shows you how far this sport has come. Amanda is an incredible ambassador. When you talk about all the great moments, having Amanda carry the flag—literally and figuratively—for the gay community is a seminal moment for our sport.”

In June 2022, the UFC marked Pride Month with its “We Are All Fighters” apparel collection for the third consecutive year—and the last. Proceeds from the rainbow-accented t-shirts went to the LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada, the same beneficiary as in 2021, while fighters could customize their walkout kits, gloves, and headbands with Pride-flag colors. Fans were encouraged to buy matching versions of whatever their favorite fighter wore.

When the official UFC Twitter account announced the initiative, the replies erupted with hundreds of middle-finger emojis, slurs, and vows never to watch again. The backlash was loud enough that the promotion quietly retired the campaign after that summer.

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

Get us HBO: How Ari Emanuel impressed a skeptical Dana White and gained control of UFC

2026-04-19T12:45:00.001-04:00

Via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

Superagent and media power player Ari Emanuel had noticed the UFC's success and reached out to represent them in obtaining future television deals. Emanuel told USA Today at the time that "this thing is going to be huge. A lot of people, networks and cable, are circling. You've got fans with a huge economic diversity. You've got an international appeal. Just watch."

Emanuel expressed concerns with distributing through just one platform—Spike. While originally skeptical of Emanuel's potential to help the UFC get on any additional platforms, White told Emanuel he would be convinced if he could deliver the gold standard of combat sports at the time: HBO.

Emanuel sought out HBO's Chris Albrecht in 2006. Albrecht could see the UFC was the future and was concerned about what HBO's future would look like: "We need to make sure we're not your father's HBO." White went so far as to announce a deal with HBO as imminent, however he felt that HBO wanted too much change, such as ropes instead of a cage. HBO was concerned that the UFC wanted too much production control. Albrecht left HBO after assaulting his girlfriend following a Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight in Las Vegas.

The deal for UFC on HBO was off, but Emanuel impressed White and Fertitta. Emanuel would represent the UFC in rights negotiations moving forward.

White spoke about what Ari Emanuel had brought to the table: "What he knows is amazing. We have a meeting in Russia and we're going to China after that, and working on some stuff that'll blow people's minds and be a lot of fun over the next five to seven years."

WME-IMG purchased the UFC from Zuffa in July 2016 for $4 billion, with Ari Emanuel at the helm. As reported by the Associated Press, Emanuel commented on the deal: "We've been honored to have UFC and a number of its athletes as clients and couldn't be happier to take our relationship to this next level as the organization's owner and operating partner," and continued, "UFC has experienced tremendous growth over the last decade, and we are looking forward to helping the organization and its athletes identify new opportunities to develop and establish their global footprint."

The UFC purchase was a cornerstone to transform the company that would be known as Endeavor from October 2017 onward into a larger media entity beyond talent representation. Dana White would earn $360 million through the sale but would stay on to run the UFC.

White was effusive about his relationship with Emanuel: "Now with Ari, he and I end up being perfect partners together. It's really cool. You think of a guy like Ari—if you watch Entourage—Ari Emanuel has no ego when he deals in business, and he's a fucking killer, and I love that about him, too."

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

"Dana's going to build it"- The early confusion and disbelief of a UFC event at the White House

2026-04-17T15:46:00.001-04:00

Via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

On a sweltering 90-degree afternoon at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines on July 3, 2025, President Trump unveiled ambitious plans for America's 250th anniversary celebrations, capping his remarks with a surprise announcement that a UFC fight would headline the July 4, 2026, festivities on the White House lawn itself. Framing the yearlong America250 initiative as a nationwide spectacle encompassing festivals at historic sites, a revived Great American State Fair, and the "Patriot Games" for top high school athletes, Trump touted the combat sports showdown as the "crown jewel," potentially drawing up to 25,000 spectators to the South Lawn under UFC CEO Dana White's orchestration. He delivered the pitch with trademark deadpan flair—"We’re going to have a UFC fight on the grounds of the White House... Dana’s going to build it. Dana’s great… we have a lot of land there…it’s going to be a wild time"—prompting audible laughter from supporters seated behind him, who mistook the audacious idea for one of his jests amid the holiday weekend kickoff rally.

To bankroll these events and broader National Park Service enhancements, Trump simultaneously signed an executive order hiking entrance fees for foreign tourists by up to $100 at marquee sites like Yellowstone and Yosemite while preserving affordable access and introducing "resident-only patriotic fee-free days" around Independence Day, Constitution Day, and Veterans Day, a move Interior Secretary Doug Burgum hailed as putting "American families first."

The proposal quickly ignited a media firestorm, with skeptics decrying it as a crass fusion of politics and spectacle that could scar the White House grounds and strain Secret Service resources, yet White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dispelled doubts in a briefing, affirming that Trump was "dead serious" about the matchup and that preliminary talks with the UFC and National Park Service were underway.

UFC officials corroborated the momentum in statements to The Athletic, confirming logistical discussions for the unprecedented bout. Critics, including ethics watchdogs, raised eyebrows over the favoritism toward Trump's longtime ally White, whose promotion has hosted multiple administration figures at recent cards, but backers envisioned a historic synergy of patriotism and ultimate fighting.

Dana White was caught off guard by the timing and spontaneity of the July 3, 2025, announcement at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, admitting in a subsequent TMZ Sports interview that he had "no idea the idea was coming" despite the two having texted earlier that day while White relaxed at one of his Maine vacation homes over the holiday weekend.

When the story exploded across media outlets, UFC officials offered only a terse holding statement to inquiring reporters: "We are in discussions with the White House about hosting a UFC event on site," with no further details forthcoming amid the whirlwind of speculation.

White, reflecting on the logistical hurdles in a July 11 MMA Fighting interview, expressed uncertainty over the venue's spectator capacity—initially floated by Trump as up to 25,000—due to stringent Secret Service protocols requiring exhaustive background checks for all attendees, which he feared could drastically limit access. "Whoever gets to be there live, it will be such a unique and amazing experience in their lifetime to go to the fight," White remarked, suggesting that rather than traditional ticket sales, entry might lean toward complimentary invitations for military families, first responders, and select VIPs.

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

The Love-Hate relationship between Donald Trump and Joe Rogan & the endorsement that sealed the 2024 Presidential Election

2026-04-11T20:28:00.001-04:00

via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

A Trump campaign representative told The Daily Beast in October 2024 that a potential sit-down between the former president and Joe Rogan would be seismic: “Perhaps the only person bigger in the new media world than Joe Rogan is Donald Trump, and the whole idea that the two of them would be together at last—it would be an incredible audience.” That anticipation had simmered for years, but Rogan repeatedly demurred, insisting in a July 2022 interview with Lex Fridman that he was no partisan cheerleader: “I’m not a Trump supporter in any way, shape, or form. I don’t want to help him. I’m not interested in helping him.” That year, Rogan also called Trump a “man baby” and a “threat to democracy” as reported in Fight. Later that summer, however, Rogan found one Trump he could wholeheartedly endorse: the former first lady, whom he dubbed “the hottest first lady of all time” during an August 2023 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience.

On September 11, 2024, podcaster Joe Rogan—long a skeptic of both major-party candidates—surprised listeners by lavishing praise on Kamala Harris's campaign team and her recent debate showings against Donald Trump. In episode #2205 of The Joe Rogan Experience with comedian Tom Segura, Rogan marveled, "They did an amazing job, from the moment Biden drops out, forcing Biden to drop out. Whatever they’re doing, whoever’s writing those speeches… they’re nailing it." The nod came amid Rogan's broader critique of the September 10 ABC debate, where he likened Harris's poised delivery to a "skilled martial artist trapping their opponent," while chiding Trump for rambling on crowd sizes and debunked conspiracies about Haitian immigrants eating pets in Ohio. Earlier, Trump had lashed out at Rogan over the podcaster's August 8 comments favoring Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the "only one that makes sense," posting on Truth Social, "It will be interesting to see how loudly Joe Rogan gets BOOED the next time he enters a UFC RING??? MAGA2024." Rogan clarified it wasn't an endorsement, of Kennedy. At UFC Noche 2 (UFC 306) on September 14 at the Las Vegas Sphere, Rogan returned to the commentary booth without a whisper of boos, instead beaming with wide-eyed euphoria over the venue's cutting-edge spectacle, reflecting on how far the promotion had come from his first gig in Dothan, Alabama.

Joe Rogan had long resisted diving into overtly political content, repeatedly declining invitations to host Donald Trump on his podcast despite persistent lobbying from the campaign and Dana White. Rogan, who had interviewed figures across the spectrum—from Bernie Sanders to Alex Jones—insisted his show was for "organic conversations," not partisan cheerleading, and once told Lex Fridman in July 2022 that he had no interest in "helping" Trump. The turning point came on July 13, 2024, when a gunman grazed Trump's ear during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania in an assassination attempt. Rogan called it "bananas" and a "Black Mirror episode".

During the three-hour episode taped on October 25, 2024, Rogan opened by crediting Dana White for Trump’s presence: “Dana White is probably the reason you’re here.”—and Trump answered with a shrug and a smile: “I don’t know, maybe,” before launching into lavish praise for White and a nostalgic recounting of their three-decade alliance. Trump pressed Rogan for an explicit endorsement with a sly nudge: "You’re not a Kamala guy. You’re a Khabib guy. No one will know who that is."

Days before the November 5 election, Joe Rogan remained coy about his vote, telling his audience on October 31 that while he appreciated Trump's grit, he wasn't ready to commit—leaving the door cracked for speculation amid his massive platform's sway. En route to Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, Dana White fired off a barrage of texts to Rogan, pressing for clarity: "You have to endorse him. Who are you voting for, Joe? Who are you voting for?" The nudge worked. At 9 p.m. on November 4, Rogan finally went public with a tweet linking to his fresh three-hour interview with Elon Musk: "The great and powerful Elon Musk. If it wasn’t for him, we’d be fucked. He makes what I think is the most compelling case for Trump you’ll hear, and I agree with him every step of the way. For the record, yes, that’s an endorsement of Trump. Enjoy the podcast."

Check out the full story via Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

When the going gets tough, President Trump goes to UFC in Miami (A History)

2026-04-10T09:54:00.000-04:00

With President Donald Trump anticipated to attend UFC 327 in Miami, Florida this weekend, it's interesting to look back on why this been Trump's favorite city to attend the UFC during times of trouble via an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

Former President Donald Trump arrived at UFC 287 on April 8, 2023, at Miami's Kaseya Center to a hero's welcome from 19,032 roaring fans, who rose in a standing ovation and broke into "USA! USA!" chants as Kid Rock's "American Badass" blared overhead. Florida Senator Marco Rubio, seated nearby, made sure to exchange greetings with Trump amid the electric atmosphere. Trump's appearance came mere days after his April 4 arraignment in New York State Supreme Court on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, tied to hush-money payments to adult-film star Stormy Daniels. Campaign spokesman Steven Cheung had predicted the spectacle would deliver a polling surge, and it did: Post-arraignment surveys showed Trump's Republican primary lead widening, cementing Cheung's rising stock in the inner circle.

On March 9, 2024, former President Donald Trump capped a whirlwind day with a surprise appearance at UFC 299 in Miami's Kaseya Center, arriving just in time for the main card after headlining an afternoon rally in Rome, Georgia. There, he had teased the crowd about his evening plans, drawing parallels between the sport's ferocity and the political fray: "It’s the closest thing I can see reflective of the election process that we have in this country, the UFC fights. That may be a little tamer than the election business." Trump lavished praise on Dana White: "Dana White has done a great job. I hope he doesn’t run for office against me. He’s done a fantastic job. It’s an easier business than politics." White later recounted to podcaster Patrick Bet-David that Trump had first texted him at 2:30 a.m. confirming his intent to come to UFC in Miami despite the Georgia commitment, followed by an 8 a.m. update vowing to make it work, a 6 p.m. message noting he was still tied up in Atlanta, and a final 10 p.m. arrival as the main card unfolded.

Trump and White strode cageside to the strains of Kid Rock's "American Badass," to cheers and a standing ovation from the sold-out crowd of 19,165. UFC commentator Jon Anik, capturing the atmosphere on the ESPN+ broadcast, paused the action to announce: "Also making his way to the Octagon, the 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, flanked by UFC CEO Dana White." He let the moment breathe, allowing home viewers to absorb the admiration, before adding, "...and lost in the pageantry is just how big a mixed martial arts fan Donald Trump is. He sits Octagon-side. He absolutely loves our live events. What a privilege it is to have President Trump in the building at UFC 299." Joining Trump were his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner, alongside a star-studded entourage including streamer Adin Ross, podcaster Candace Owens, YouTuber MrBeast, skateboard icon Tony Hawk, and boxer Logan Paul. Trump paused en route to shake hands with Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, soaking in the adulation as the presumptive GOP nominee—poised to clinch the Republican presidential nomination the following week. For the UFC, the night was a triumph too: The event shattered the Kaseya Center's previous record with a staggering $13.75 million gate, the fourth-highest in the promotion history.

President Trump made his first UFC appearance as America's 47th president on April 12, 2025, attending UFC 314 at Miami's Kaseya Center amid a week of market volatility triggered by his administration's escalating trade wars and tariffs on major partners like China, Canada, and the European Union. As reported by The New York Times, stocks had plunged into bear market territory earlier that week due to fears of retaliation and slowed growth, with the S&P 500 rebounding only after a brief 90-day tariff pause announcement. Entering the arena to a standing ovation and "USA" chants, Trump drew parallels between the global economic clashes and the evening's bouts during a cageside chat with reporters from Fox News, remarking, "So we’re going to the fight. We have lots of fights going around the world, and I think we have a lot of good news coming soon about some of those fights, and we’ll see how it goes. But it’s been an interesting weekend. I think we have some pretty good news coming on some of those conflicts." He viewed the crowd's fervor as a pulse-check on his leadership, adding, "We’re doing a good job. If we weren’t doing a good job, we’d get the opposite (reaction)."

Trump's entourage included Elon Musk, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, while many fighters on the card reportedly sought him out post-event for handshakes and photos, which he hailed as encounters with "modern day warriors." Miami Heat legend Shaquille O'Neal, seated nearby, came over for a warm embrace and whispered exchange with the president, a moment captured on video and shared widely on social media by White House aides. Light heavyweight Dominick Reyes, fresh off a first-round knockout of Nikita Krylov in the main card opener, celebrated by mimicking Trump's signature golf swing toward his ringside seat before posing for a photo with him. Marking a family milestone, Trump's eldest grandchild, 17-year-old Kai Madison Trump—daughter of Donald Trump Jr. and a rising social media influencer with a flair for golf content—joined him for what may have been her UFC debut alongside cousins Donald Trump III and Spencer Trump; aboard Air Force One the next morning, she gushed to reporters that the night was "awesome," later posting on Instagram that "UFC 314 was a blast!" with selfies featuring O'Neal and Octagon views.

Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

When Dana White almost ran the World Fighting Alliance instead of UFC

2026-04-09T20:58:00.002-04:00

The following is an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House:

Through a protracted contract dispute on behalf of Ortiz that dragged on for over a year, White learned that SEG was desperate to exit the fight business.

The UFC had paid Ortiz just $10,000 of his guaranteed $25,000 for his fight against Frank Shamrock at UFC XXII: Only One Can Be Champion in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on September 24, 1999.

White was pushing for the balance in full or a percentage of the next pay-per-view’s revenue. Meyrowitz, at his wit's end, finally snapped in frustration: "You know what, there is no pay-per-view. There is no money. And pretty soon there's probably not going to be a UFC."

White reached out to the Fertittas: "I think this thing is in trouble. I think we can own the UFC." In May 2000, Lorenzo and Dana flew Paul Smith, co-owner of the IFC, to Las Vegas for a few days to learn more about the business of MMA.

Dana White had been considering a job offer from the startup World Fighting Alliance under John Lewis. The WFA deal promised $200,000 a year plus a house, with Lewis's vision manifesting as MMA events infused with a nightclub vibe: "Where the fight club meets the night club." As reported in No Holds Barred, Lewis partnered with club promoter John Huntington, who described their theme nights as "Pimp n’ Ho and Club Rubber parties. These are big, travelling theme shows that’s just an ocean of people."

White told USA Today, "I actually got offered an opportunity probably a month and a half, two months before we bought the UFC. So I went to Lorenzo and was like, ‘Listen, I got this opportunity. What do you think?’ He looked at me like I was out of my mind. He was like ‘I thought we were going to do something together.’ I said ‘All right. Done.’ So I didn’t take the opportunity. Two months later, the UFC falls in my lap."

The following is an excerpt from Ultimate Fighters: Donald Trump, Dana White and UFC's Road to the White House: