“This is karma.”
One of the most powerful lines in Donald Trump’s victory speech last Wednesday morning was not spoken by a politician, a campaign aide or even a family member. Instead, it was UFC CEO Dana White who made the remark.
As the boss of one of the biggest combat sport promotions in the world, White has repeatedly expressed his support for the President-elect. Trump is often spotted at UFC events, and White has made many rally appearances, most notably when he introduced Trump at the Republican National Convention earlier this year.
White and Trump’s history
White has been a supporter of Trump long before his political ventures. In 2001, the UFC was on the verge of being banned by state governments, but the sport remained legal in New Jersey. Trump offered his Atlantic City casino-hotel to be a venue for UFC 31 and UFC 32, making the two business partners for life.
White accredits Trump’s help with the growth and continued success of the promotion, which is now valued at $12 billion, according to BetMGM.
White is far from the stereotypical American sports league CEO. NFL’s commissioner Roger Goodell is always greeted by a booing crowd in his public appearances. Gary Bettman of the NHL, Rob Manfred of the MLB and Adam Silver of the NBA experience the same.
White, for the most part, is well-liked by fans and fighters alike, especially for his contributions to the boom of mixed martial arts. What truly sets him apart from other league heads, though, is his willingness to bring politics into the sport.
The UFC is unlike other leagues. There are no team owners responsible for ticket sales and a good public reputation. White can continue to voice his political views as long as he can retain his viewer base. It’s a fanbase that is largely made up of white males. 60% of white males from key states voted for Trump in the 2024 election, so the ideas that White and his fighters support are often backed by the fanbase.
Black and Latino fans also comprise much of the fanbase, and both demographics saw a large increase in Trump votes compared to 2020.
A widespread problem
White has publicly and repeatedly endorsed Trump in each of the last three elections, but he is far from the only UFC member to have done so. Though some women have expressed far-right views, it’s mostly men who speak up and agree with White.
In 2020, at the peak of his popularity Jorge Masvidal, gave a speech in Florida impelling Latino voters to stop Joe Biden and socialism. At UFC 302, which was held in New Jersey with Trump in attendance, Kevin Holland celebrating his win by shaking hands with the then-candidate at ringside.
Perhaps the most outspoken of these fighters is Colby Covington. Covington has worn “Make America Great Again” hats to press conferences, and has trashed the Black Lives Matter movement after a win against Tyron Woodley, who is famously a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement, two months before the 2020 election.
Some fighters go further than speaking on the matter.
The first welterweight champion in UFC history, Pat Miletich, was seen at the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. UFC legend Tito Ortiz refused to wear a mask as mayor pro tem of Huntington Beach. Former champ BJ Penn ran for Hawaii’s Republican governor nomination, promising to end all coronavirus mandates –– an idea supported by Trump’s Republican Party.
Joe Rogan, a UFC color commentator, also plays a crucial role in the far-right beliefs of UFC fans and fighters.
Rogan’s podcast, the Joe Rogan Experience, is known for spreading falsehoods about the COVID-19 pandemic and interviewing right-wing guests such as conspiracist Alex Jones, who lost a $1.5 billion settlement for spreading misinformation about the Sandy Hook shooting.
What brings mixed martial arts toward right-leaning politics?
Many fans see UFC as the pinnacle of masculinity — and Dustin Poirier’s fight with Dan Hooker is the perfect example. Two strong men stepped into a cage and battled for 25 minutes, with both fighters and the canvas covered in blood by the end.
Conservatives have recently fearmongered about the decline of masculine men. The UFC provides a space far from the criticisms of toxic masculinity, where men can be the most violent versions of themselves –– and the right tells them they should be.
The UFC’s fanbase of young men is most at risk to this pipeline. By enticing impressionable men who seek an environment where masculinity is still encouraged, UFC is only increasing the number of young men who agree with Dana White’s right-wing views.
As a fan of the sport itself, I watch the UFC to enjoy the technical skill of each fighter. However, I fear that young men will be drawn toward the far-right ideals of the promotion’s owner and fighters, leading to the sport’s radicalization and a distortion of its views of masculinity.
The radicalization of young men toward the far right, which promotes sexist and misogynistic views, also alienates female fans. The UFC only added women’s divisions in 2013, which came two years after White explicitly remarked that women would never be allowed to fight in the promotion.
Female fans are a large demographic that could contribute positively to a boom in viewership and ratings –– but the UFC’s misogyny drives them away.
