Dana White reveals FBI Director Kash Patel ‘dead serious’ about working with UFC to train agents

It looks like FBI agents might be learning some mixed martial arts sooner rather than later.
During a recent conference call with the heads of all the 55 field offices across the country, new FBI director Kash Patel floated the idea of working with the UFC to train agents in physical fitness and martial arts. While there were varying reactions to that suggestion, Patel was actually in attendance at UFC 313 on Saturday where he spoke to Dana White about possibly working together.
“After he said that my phone blew up, everybody wants to be the trainers for the FBI now,” White revealed at the UFC 313 post-fight press conference. “I’ve got everybody [asking me].
“But he’s dead serious about that. Talked to him about it tonight. He’s dead serious so we’ll see how that starts to come together.”
Patel, who resides in Las Vegas, has become a UFC fan in recent years while growing his relationship with White during President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign in 2024.
Of course, Trump has been a vocal supporter of the UFC for many years and he even attended the event in New York City this past November just days after he won his re-election. White has also been in Trump’s corner for several years, which included speaking appearances at the Republican National Conventions and stumping for him on the campaign trail during the 2024 election cycle.
White even spoke on election night after Trump secured his victory for a second term.
As far as the FBI striking up a formal relationship with the UFC, it’s not all that shocking considering the vast amount of coaches and trainers from MMA who already work with law enforcement agencies.
Famed coaches like Greg Jackson have run martial arts courses for local police departments for many years and many fighters have gone onto work in law enforcement after their careers were finished.
Now it looks like FBI agents may soon get a crash course in MMA, especially now that White has confirmed Patel is serious about building that relationship to create a training program in the near future.