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Dan wetzel
Mixed martial arts, and, by proxy, was banned in the ultimate fighting championship, once in 36 states and pay-per-view (which was allowed adult films). In the early days, the only way to look was to wait for your local video store to get a copy of the most recent card.
Arizona’s Republican Sen John McCain (who later became a fan) called it “human cockfighting”. He was not completely wrong. At that time there were so few rules that in the UFC 4, the fighters had to compromise a gentleman for not pulling the hair.
Even in the 2000s, sports – and some considered it a real game – was not going anywhere. A little reliability. Limited visibility. An uncertain future.
Flash for July 4, 2026, when UFC planned to install an octagon on the South Lawn of the White House and is likely to be aired at the national level as part of the 250th anniversary ceremony of establishing the country.
Only in America, as is the saying.
UFC CEO Dana White told ESPN, “If I said that would happen a few years ago, people would have said: This boy is out of his mind.”
White is the last MMA believer and one of the greatest promoters/promotions men in history. Neither humility nor backward is paid bills. Nevertheless, his game and his company feel different in such a spotlight. It is almost immense.
He thinks of early fans who never forgive and spread the word. Or fighters and trainers who got a passion. Or only someone, from local gym owners to minor sponsors, who helped to push the MMA into the mainstream. This was one step and then the other.
“The fact is that a fighter game is the one that was to be played in the White House, it is just a badge of honor,” said White.
He knows how possible it was. In 2001, Frank and Lorenzo Furtitta bought UFC for just $ 2 million with White, Las Vegas Casino officials. Till 2004, he almost gave up.
White said that Fertitas pumped a $ 30 million in the business. White, meanwhile, tried to do everything to get traction. Was working a little.
White told ESPN, “The worst moment was the day when Lorenzo called me and said: I can’t do it. I can’t spend money on this thing,” White told ESPN.
White went in search of a buyer, but he said he could not think he could get more than $ 7 million. Fetittas decided to stay in the course, taking the risk of good money after malfunction. Or at least what was bad.
In 2005, a deal with Spike TV changed everything to broadcast the reality show “The Ultimate Fighter”. Seeing the same success, UFC flew. Earlier this week, it agreed to seven years with paramount, $ 7.7 billion broadcast deal.
Development and money are great, of course. White, however, is proud of the call that he met President Donald Trump, a long time private friend and Combat Sports Fan in the summer of this year. Trump told White that he wanted the UFC to be part of the United States’ Semicinantenial festival by staging a quarrel at the White House.
“I said: Yes sir, I will complete it,” said White.
Did White think that the President was making fun of?
“He doesn’t jokingly,” White said. “He says that some funny S —, but he doesn’t joking.”
Presidents and sports events have long been added, but it is mostly baseball or football or basketball or golf. Perhaps a NASCAR race in search of votes.
MMA, however? Cage Fighting?
Trump became the first US President to participate in a battle in 2019 when he sat octagon-side for UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden.
He was big. This White House plan is historic.
White admitted that her long -standing friendship with Trump contributed to the decision. He said that he wanted to clarify, however, he would try to respect any President’s request regardless of politics, party or personal relationship.
“Of course, I mean when people are talking about Trump, what, what, you think I will not do this for any President?” White said. “I am an American. Whoever is the President of the United States is my President.”
White said that his concern is now completely how he is going to pull it. It has only another outdoor fight in UFC history – 2010 card in Abu Dhabi.
“I hate it,” said White. “I hate everything about it. You can never trust the weather.”
However, there is no option here. The White House will possibly serve as a dressing room and warm -up area, but it may not fit into an octagon and broadcast studio. In addition, the idea is visual – the White House on one side, the Washington Memorial in the distance on the other.
The appearance would be limited, but White said he does not care. Their great apprehensions are uncontrolled, such as fighter injuries cancels planned matches, quarrels that do not just click or something that he has not yet thought.
Whatever it is, he says. The UFC has staged cards worldwide, pulling an epic show on small notice inside the Las Vegas region and during the epidemic, also transferred operations in the so -called Fight Island in the United Arab Emirates.
From White’s point of view, it is a privilege, a milestone of respect which was once immense.
“The President is confident that the White House belongs to the American people,” said White. “He wants to do more things to encourage people to come to the White House. He has got all these ideas and plans.
“Now we’ve just got to pull it.”
