The FBI will be getting a little help from the UFC this week.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the mixed martial arts promotion UFC said Thursday that UFC fighters will travel to the FBI Special Agent Academy in Quantico, Virginia, this weekend to train FBI agents-in-training as well as senior FBI staff from around the world.
The federal law enforcement agency and the MMA company say that the athletes and UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard “will provide insight into how they train for competition, as well as demonstrate specific techniques and tactics, offering a unique perspective to the students as they prepare to enter the field office.”
The UFC, of course, is set to host an event on the South Lawn of the White House this June. President Trump is a fan of the sport and a friend of UFC CEO Dana White. FBI Director Kash Patel is also known to be a combat sport fan.
Executives at TKO Group Holdings, the UFC’s parent company, have told investors that they expect to lose $30 million on that “once-in-a-lifetime” event, though the benefits of the spectacle will far outweigh the cost, given all the attention it is sure to receive. The company has an exclusive U.S. media rights deal with Paramount.
“I have tremendous respect for the FBI and the work they do every day to protect this country,” said UFC CEO Dana White. “Our UFC fighters are some of the baddest men and women on the planet and they are heading to Quantico to train the best FBI agents in mixed martial arts. It’s an incredible opportunity for our athletes to experience, and we’re proud to support the FBI in strengthening their defense techniques.”
Among the UFC stars heading to Quantico are interim UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethe, the first UFC BMF champion Jorge Masvidal, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman, former UFC strawweight title challenger Claudia Gadelha, former UFC lightweight title challenger Michael Chandler, top UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape and mixed martial arts legend Renzo Gracie.
“I’m thrilled to announce this historic seminar between the FBI and the UFC at Quantico,” said Patel. “This is a tremendous opportunity for our FBI agents to learn and train with some of the greatest athletes on earth — helping the world’s premier law enforcement agency be even better prepared to protect the American people. Dana White has changed the game in the mixed martial arts industry, and we’re extremely honored to be partnered with him, the professionals and the UFC. We are grateful for their shared love of our nation, so that we can better defend her.”
