Secretary of State Marco Rubio and UFC chief Dana White came together at the State Department on Thursday to discuss diplomacy, not fighting, as they signed a partnership to enhance sports diplomacy.
“Everybody loves the fights,” White said, noting that when their cage matches go overseas, they see presidents or royal families attending. “If somebody looks like you, talks like you, and comes from where you come from, and they’re looked at as the best in the world when it comes to fighting, the entire country rallies around them, and it’s a pretty powerful thing.”
The signing comes ahead of Sunday’s UFC match on the South Lawn of the White House, which is being held on President Trump’s 80th birthday to mark the 250th birthday of the United States.
Rubio praised UFC for its international appeal. “You have one of the most recognizable American sports brands on the planet,” he said to White. “So much of the American spirit is reflected in this American company.”
The memorandum of understanding marks “a new public-private partnership to enhance sports diplomacy initiatives and collaborate on the global growth of mixed martial arts,” according to the State Department.