From the Octagon to Quantico: UFC teaching the FBI to fight is its latest tie to Trump world

The Guardian Sport · 10/16/2026, 9:00:55 AM

The mixed martial arts organization has had links to the US president for years. Now it could be involved in training federal agents In the lead-up to UFC Freedom 250 – the cagefighting spectacle that took place on the South Lawn of the White House to mark Donald Trump’s 80th birthday this past summer – the FBI announced that a handful of UFC fighters would visit the bureau for an exclusive training seminar for federal agents. Taking place at the FBI Special Agent Academy in Quantico, Virginia, the March seminar put roughly 300 federal agents and academy students through specialized hand-to-hand combat training with seven past and current UFC fighters, including former middleweight champion Chris Weidman, who was pictured giving attendees advice on warding off attackers. Continue reading...