Dana White promises there’s nothing controversial about FBI director Kash Patel proposing a potential partnership between the UFC and the Federal law enforcement agency because it actually makes perfect sense.
Back in February, Patel floated the idea of having UFC fighters train agents during a meeting with the heads from all the various FBI field offices across the United States. While the initial suggestion was met with some skepticism, the UFC CEO later revealed that Patel was “dead serious” about striking up a partnership that would provide agents with more skills to use on the job.
Patel, who is an avid fan and actually attended UFC 314 this past weekend in Miami, has spoken to White about the partnership and the UFC CEO believes it can only be beneficial for agents in the field.
“For people that don’t know, UFC fighters have been training law enforcement, military guys for years,” White told Fox News. “When you talk about hand-to-hand combat, these guys should know jiu-jitsu and they should know Muay Thai and all the different things that are the basics of mixed martial arts.
“Everybody wants to make everything controversial. There’s nothing controversial about it. All of these guys should be trained in [MMA] and they should all be in shape and be able to defend themselves. Kash Patel was dead serious when he said that and he and I have talked about it.”
While no formal relationship has been forged yet, White seems to believe it’s going to happen and the UFC is all about helping out the FBI in any way possible.
White is correct about the relationship between fighters and coaches working with local law enforcement offices across the globe. Famed coach Greg Jackson ran a program for years in New Mexico working with law enforcement and SWAT team officers.
John McCarthy, who is still arguably the best-known referee to ever officiate fights in MMA, has worked as a Los Angeles Police Department tactics and self-defense instructor as well.
In the long term, the UFC CEO believes the relationship would only pay off for agents looking to add a few new tools to their arsenal.
“Any of these guys that are in these type of roles, any type of law enforcement, they should be able to defend themselves without guns if that situation happens,” White said.
Dana White lauds FBI director Kash Patel wanting to work with UFC: ‘All of these guys should be trained in [MMA]’
