Calling the combination “historic,” FBI Director Kash Patel announced Wednesday that UFC fighters will teach mixed martial arts this weekend to FBI trainees and senior staff at the bureau’s academy in Quantico, Virginia.
“This is a great opportunity for our FBI agents to learn and train with some of the greatest athletes in the world – helping the world’s premier law enforcement agency be even better prepared to protect the American people,” Patel said in a news release. posted by the UFC.
The director then praised UFC CEO Dana White, an ally of Donald Trump who spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention and that of the president Victory Party 2025. White is working with the White House to host a UFC event there in June.
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Patel said the combat sports director “changed the game in the mixed martial arts industry and we are extremely honored to work with him, the professionals and the UFC.”
“We are grateful for their shared love for our nation so that we can better defend it,” he added.
“I have tremendous respect for the FBI and the work they do every day to protect this country,” White said in the news release. “Our UFC fighters are some of the worst men and women in the world and they are going to Quantico to train the best FBI agents in mixed martial arts. It is an incredible opportunity for our athletes to experience this, and we are proud to support the FBI as they strengthen their defense techniques.”
A report in February 2025 noted that Patel was interested in recruiting the UFC to assist in the agency’s training.
Patel received a public relations black eye during the recent Winter Olympics for drinking beer in the locker room with the victorious U.S. men’s hockey team and for his reportedly light business schedule at the Games.
According to the release, the UFC athletes will “provide insight into how they train for competition, and demonstrate specific techniques and tactics, providing students with a unique perspective as they prepare to enter the field office.”
The roster of instructors includes interim UFC Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje, the first UFC “Baddest Motherfucker” (a symbolic indication) champion Jorge Masvidal, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman, former UFC strawweight title challenger Claudia Gadelha and mixed martial arts icon Renzo Gracie.
