The latest Ultimate Fighting Championship match on the White House lawn, in commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary, has apparently been the last straw for many UFC fans and fighters alike. The relationship between President Trump and the UFC, particularly with its CEO Dana White, has been known for years. However, for many people, the White House UFC fight was a line that stepped too far.
Due to the actions of the Trump administration supporting unpopular measures like the war on Iran, the handling of the Epstein files, and Israel’s actions against Palestinian’s in Gaza, the UFC agreeing to host events like the one at the White House seemed rather tone deaf for many.
This has led to rising calls from fans and fighters alike for a general boycott against the organization, which was already building years before the White House fiasco. Previously, the UFC has had controversies surrounding its monopoly of the MMA industry and its treatment of its fighters and independent contractors.
For many, a boycott against the UFC is long overdue. Considering the amount of influence it has had in mobilizing young men towards supporting Trump’s presidential campaigns and the overall modern conservative movement, they are more than just an entertainment company. The UFC is actively holding its industry back from growing its audience beyond working-class white men, and by aligning itself with political figures like Donald Trump, it’s cementing itself as a proponent of the values he holds.
If nothing changes, the UFC could easily be left behind as it continues to alienate some of its most profitable fighters.
