How Donald Trump helped save the UFC when no one else would



When the Ultimate Fighting Championship was nearly defunct, Donald Trump gave the organization a platform to display what would become one of the biggest sports empires in the world.

Trump’s relationship with UFC President Dana White dates back to 2001, when the UFC was beloved by only hardcore fight fans.

The organization had gained a cult following in the 1990s with names like Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Chuck Liddell, and Tito Ortiz headlining cards. Despite the company and those fighters being household names for fathers and sons who rented UFC tapes at their local video store, the company was running on fumes and nearing its end.

Money had dried up so much that owner Semaphore Entertainment Group was unable to fund the DVD releases of its last seven events from 1999-2000; UFC 23-29 subsequently became referred to as the “dark ages” of the UFC.

When Station Casinos executives Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, along with their business partner White, bought the UFC in 2001, all signs pointed to a failing business.

'I had my attorneys tell me that I was crazy because I wasn’t buying anything.'

White said in 2011 that at first, he and his partners were sports fans looking to invest in boxing. After attending a UFC event, however, the trio began taking jiujitsu classes and fell in love with the sport.

This piqued the group’s interest, and with White managing fighters Liddell and Ortiz, they found the perfect opportunity to get their hands on the company.

“It was going out of business,” White said of the UFC. “I called [the Fertittas] and said, ‘I think this thing’s in trouble, I think we can buy the UFC,’ and a month later we owned the company.”

Lorenzo Fertitta recalled years later that when he bought the UFC, his lawyers couldn’t grasp the purchase, asking him exactly what he was getting in exchange for the large sale price.

“I had my attorneys tell me that I was crazy because I wasn’t buying anything. I was paying $2 million and they were saying 'What are you getting?'" he told Fighter’s Only in 2009.

The owner called the promotion a “never-ending black hole” that kept absorbing his checks as fast as he could write them.

However, with the company now under their belt, White and the Fertittas began plotting how to get the business profitable and started their journey to get sanctioned in flourishing markets.

The Trump Taj Mahal era

For years, the UFC was seen as a barbaric and brutal sport not fit for regular consumption. Different fighting organizations had different rules that were deemed too violent by many jurisdictions.

Visions of knee and soccer kicks to the heads of downed opponents were visions that the new owners had to erase from the minds of legislators.

Therefore, legendary UFC referee John McCarthy worked as part of a group of experienced martial arts experts who met with different governing bodies to establish a set of rules.

The tipping point was when the group teamed up with the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board to create unified mixed martial arts rules.

'They couldn’t get a venue because of the danger.'

As MMAWeekly noted, this took place in September 2000.

By the time the Fertittas and White took over in January 2001, the UFC had already held one sanctioned event in New Jersey; UFC 28 on November 17, 2000, at the Trump Taj Mahal.

Soon, two more events would take place at the Trump-backed arena: UFC 30 in February 2001 and UFC 31 in May 2001.

Trump talked about the beginning of his relationship with the UFC owners in a 2023 interview with former UFC champion Matt Serra, who fought at one of the Trump Taj Mahal events.

“I respected Dana a lot,” Trump began. “[The UFC] couldn’t get a venue because of the danger. People thought it was so dangerous — and they happened to be right about that — but they couldn't get a venue and I supplied them with a venue.”

White said the same in 2016, telling the Republican National Convention that arenas refused to host UFC events, and nobody took them seriously.

White and the Fertittas knew, however, that although their events were welcomed in New Jersey — and other smaller markets like the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut — they needed to get their shows sanctioned in Nevada under the unified rules.

“It was perceived as being just like death,” Trump continued. “So a lot of the athletic commissions wouldn't do it, and owners wouldn't do it, and they couldn't get venues, and I gave them venues early on.”

Donald Trump and musician Kid Rock at UFC 287 in Miami.Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Trump provided what would become a launching pad for the UFC to prove, under the New Jersey unified rules, that the UFC could be mainstream, professional, and safe, and therefore become recognized by official governing bodies.

The new rules helped the UFC’s image greatly. Fighters now had to wear trunks, specific gloves, and were not permitted to wear any other attire (UFC fighters used to be allowed to wear shoes, gis, and even shirts).

New weight classes were also implemented, from flyweight (125 pounds) all the way up to super heavyweight (over 265 pounds). The latter has only been used once by the UFC, at UFC 28 at the Trump Taj Mahal.

From October 2000 all the way until late June 2021, the Trump Taj Mahal was the only U.S. venue to put on a UFC event.

During this time, the State Athletic Control Board of New Jersey held a meeting to discuss the regulation of mixed martial arts events. Nick Lembo, counsel to the SACB, recalled that the April 2001 meeting proposed uniform rules that were to be agreed upon by several “regulatory bodies, numerous promoters of mixed martial arts events and other interested parties.”

All parties allegedly signed off on the uniform set of rules, with the anticipation of more regulatory bodies adapting them soon thereafter.

Nevada was among the jurisdictions to subsequently adopt the unified rules, and by September 2001, the UFC was hosting its first sanctioned event in Las Vegas.

UFC 33 marked a turn for the company, and while White said years later that “every fight” on the card “sucked,” the event sold out and returned to Pay-Per-View with 75,000 buys.

Modern influence

UFC President Dana White at the Republican National ConventionPhoto by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Now, despite over 200 events in Las Vegas, Trump is still sitting cage-side during many of the organization’s most monumental moments.

His appearances at the events have become headline-makers in their own right, as outlets anticipate which personalities will appear in his entourage and what role their relationship may play in his politics.

“I knew you were a fan,” Serra told Trump in 2024.

Serra recalled that even though UFC 32 was held at the Meadowlands in New Jersey — not the Trump Taj Mahal — Trump was still in the audience.

That love of the sport is not only felt by the fans but by the fighters, as well.

Near limitless UFC athletes have voiced public support for the president in recent years, perhaps most notably Colby Covington, who adopted a “Make America Great Again” hat in 2018.

That support has grown to the biggest athletes in the sport, including heavyweight champion Jon Jones, former “Baddest” UFC fighter Jorge Masvidal, and perpetual contender Michael Chandler.

'Donald championed the UFC before it was popular.'

White himself has explained that his fighters relate to the president for the same reasons Americans do; he is a person who uplifts himself and others around him, often persevering when odds are stacked against him.

“Trump Donald was the first guy that recognized the potential that we saw in the UFC and encouraged us to build our business,” White said in 2016. “He dealt with us personally, he got in the trenches with us, and he made a deal that worked for everyone.”

“Donald championed the UFC before it was popular, before it grew into a successful business, and I will always be grateful ... so grateful to him for standing with us in those early days.”

The UFC now promotes Trump with his own entrance videos and has him walk to his seat as if he is about to fight. Broadcasts feature like-minded celebrities throughout the entire show as part of an ever-growing ecosystem of influencers that has been built between his two administrations.

This relationship between the presidents of both the UFC and the United States appears to be mutually beneficial, but in terms of influence, Trump’s early adoption of the sport seems to be paying dividends.

'You cannot beat father time': Fans criticize retired UFC champs who will return for comeback fight



Two former light heavyweight UFC champions will come out of retirement to box each other, one of the fighters revealed.

Rashad Evans announced that he will compete in a boxing match with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, saying that he's "jumped into training camp" for a bout in early 2025.

"We're looking to do it potentially at the end of February, and it's most likely going to be here in Florida. We're going to do a boxing match," Evans said.

Evans explained that while he could be "done with it all" and enjoy his life, he would "always wonder" if he should have had a boxing match.

Now 45, Evan last fought in mixed martial arts in 2022 but hasn't consistently competed since 2018.

Jackson, 46, hasn't had an MMA fight since 2019.

Upon hearing the announcement, fans reacted poorly, especially given how Jackson has looked in his most recent fights. For his 2019 fight against Fedor Emelianenko, fans felt Jackson looked sluggish and out of shape on his way to receiving a first round TKO loss.

Reactions were even worse this time around across social media platforms.

"I understand you need some money but the young fighters put on the best show. You cannot beat father time," a fan wrote on YouTube.

"I’m tired of watching the elderly fight," another viewer wrote.

On X, readers responded to ab article on the topic with comments like "Please don't" and "no one wants this."

Please don't.
— Pinballchef (@pinballchef) November 21, 2024

"I have less than zero interest in this fight," another reader said.

Some referenced the recent Mike Tyson boxing fight, who, at 58 years old, was clearly too old to fight competitively.

"Please stop old guys from fighting. Tyson should have been the straw that broke the camels back."

please stop old guys from fighting. Tyson should have been the straw that broke the camels back
— Master Chief (@BasedSierra117) November 20, 2024

'There's nothing better than getting another chance to fight “Rampage.”’

Evans continued, saying that his opponent Jackson is in good shape and ready for a fight.

"Boxing is something I'm a huge fan of and there's nothing better than getting another chance to fight 'Rampage.' [He] is in pretty good shape right now," Evans told MMA Fighting. "He was getting ready for Shannon 'The Cannon' [Briggs] so he's in pretty good shape. I want to get a chance to do it again with [him]."

Jackson also participated in a gimmick fight in 2023, where he had a tandem two-on-two boxing match alongside UFC legend Bob Sapp.

Evans too has kept himself in good shape and has been noticeably trim while working as an MMA broadcaster.

The two fighters had one match against each other in the UFC in 2010. Evans won the fight by unanimous decision.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

'Everybody's tired of the bulls***': UFC Pres. Dana White says media and politicians are 'most hated people' in the world



UFC President Dana White explained that he believes Donald Trump won the 2024 election in the same manner he has built his brands.

During the post-fight press conference for UFC 309, White was asked what effect the election of Trump will have on his company, given that so many of his fighters relate to the president.

At the event, multiple fighters spoke to Trump ringside, including heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who even thanked the president and handed him his belt.

"If you saw the election, the entire country relates with Trump right now," White said, noting Trump's swing-state victories. "It feels like somebody hit the reset button."

White added that his feeling was that the electorate wanted a "blowout" for one candidate or the other in order to avoid any discrepancies in which direction to take the country in.

"I think everybody's tired of the bulls***, man. We're all tired, we all just want to live our lives, and run our businesses, and raise our families," the CEO went on.

'Nobody trusts them and nobody believes them.'

Acknowledging that most of the media members in front of him weren't Trump supporters, White carved out Trump's path to victory, describing that it was through nontraditional means.

Explaining his "philosophy," White said he has created relationships with online influencers and podcasters for years, allowing him to circumvent traditional media, which he said is greatly disliked by voters.

"The two most-hated people in this world right now; the media and the politicians. Nobody trusts them and nobody believes them," White claimed.

The method of directly speaking to voters through podcasts, influencers, and social media is the exact same methodology that built White's slap-fighting brand, Power Slap.

"The way Power Slap was built is the way this election was won," the 55-year-old said.

UFC/YouTube

White described the difference he has seen in major "blue" cities like New York leading up to and after the election; citing experiences where random people are running up to him and offering their thanks.

This, coupled with a positive shift in energy, is what has led to the feeling of a "weight that's been lifted off the country."

"Things are already getting better [Trump's] not even in there yet," White said.

Trump has been heralded for his embrace of new media. Appearances on podcasts with comedians like Joe Rogan, Theo Von, and young influencers like the Nelk Boys and Adin Ross no doubt led to 18-29-year-olds showing up at the polls.

Exit polls showed huge gains among young men for Trump, where he won by 14 points over Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump also made gains with young female voters and increased his support by seven points over 2020 from 33% to 40%.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

'Nobody was ever in his pocket': UFC's Jorge Masvidal defends Trump as a free thinker with new ideas



UFC legend Jorge Masvidal said that his support of President Donald Trump comes from years of watching him push his own thoughts and ideas forward, while other politicians were bought off.

Masvidal is of Cuban descent and has defended Trump for years while condemning Democrats, saying they are slowly creeping toward communism.

During election coverage on the night of the Republican victory, Masvidal was asked by podcast host Patrick Bet-David why he likes Trump so much.

"2015/16 I started seeing him do his thing, and he said one thing right in the beginning that caught my eye," Masvidal began. "That was, he said nobody was in his pockets. He said he was in all these politicians' pockets [and] he got them to do whatever he wanted to do, and nobody was ever in his pocket. He paid everybody off."

The fighter, who is the inaugural "Baddest Motherf***er" (BMF) champion in the UFC, added that it has been Trump's individuality and willingness to push his own ideas that has led to his near decade-long support.

"He was coming into the game with his own ideas, his own thoughts, and nobody could buy him. When I heard that I was like, 'This is a man that if he says what he's going to do, it's going to be the best thing for us.'"

'This is one person with his own thoughts, and he loves America.'

The fighter told Bet-David that there are no "secret corporations" controlling the president behind the scenes and no foreign governments he is beholden to.

"This is one person with his own thoughts, and he loves America, that's how long I've been rocking with Trump. I love this guy."

In 2023, Masvidal defended Trump in the face of indictments in New York City, likening the charges to the actions of communist governments.

"My family has lived through it, and history has told us that this is a play right out of the communist playbook," Masvidal said at the time.

The 40-year-old warned that if the charges went through on Trump, there was no telling where government persecution would stop.

"This has been done before in history, and every time it's happened, it only gets worse. We can't let the left take over," Masvidal warned.

Masvidal lost fought in July in a boxing match against fellow UFC legend Nate Diaz, losing in a decision.

In September, Masvidal said he was eyeing a UFC comeback. He is still under contract with the organization, and according to ESPN, told the UFC he wants to fight No.1-ranked middleweight Leon Edwards.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

'Hate speech isn't real': UFC contender Sean Strickland says he won't fight in Australia due to its government



UFC middleweight Sean Strickland announced he will not fight in Australia for a championship again, citing the government's disdain for him and the country's lack of free speech.

Strickland last fought down under for the middleweight championship in 2023, beating New Zealander Israel Adesanya at UFC 293. Leading up to the fight, Strickland made it his plight to criticize Australia's laws surrounding speech, guns, and more.

Strickland has since lost the middleweight title to South Africa's Dricus Du Plessis but has battled his way back to the No. 1 contender position for a rematch.

However, the Anaheim, California, native recently declared he has no intention of accepting a fight in Australia for the belt.

"I'm not fighting in Australia. Were thinking Vegas in March," the fighter wrote on his X page.

"I have a love for the aussies BUT I don't think you're government likes me... Which I take as a compliment!! Hate speech isn't real and ill always speak up for my kangaroo homies," Strickland continued, adding an all-caps call for freedom.

— (@)

Strickland responded to several fan comments, including one that claimed Australians are "too liberal."

The fighter took the chance to clarify that his issue is with the state, not the people.

"The government is [too liberal]. The people living there are as much as a Trump supporters as us," Strickland replied.

— (@)

Strickland has been highly critical of Australian policies since the COVID-19 lockdowns, when federal authorities forced citizens into quarantine camps.

"Go to Australia and post something negative about covid. They can enter your home and take you to jail," Strickland said in 2021.

I can just start naming constitutional amendments that most countries don't have? Go to Australia and post something negative about covid. They can enter your home and take you to jail.
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) November 30, 2021

Leading up to his fight in 2023, Strickland's outlook was to figuratively liberate Australia by speaking out about its gun control measures.

"A woman can't own a gun.... or a knife... or pepper spray.... My god! I'm coming to save you Australia," the former champion wrote.

Later that same day, Strickland said, "Looks like me going to Australia is becoming a humanitarian mission now," he said in response to a post about gun licensing.

— (@)

It appears the fighter's outlook has changed from liberation to a worry that the government won't be as welcoming of him a second time around.

He may be right to assume so, given that political commentator Candace Owens was recently denied entry to the island nation.

Australia's immigration minister said Owens had the "capacity to incite discord" and therefore should not be allowed into the country.

The minister claimed Owens' comments about the Holocaust and the Islamic slave trade could "incite discord in almost every direction."

Strickland has said he would only fight once to prove he deserves a rematch for the middleweight title and after beating Brazil's Paulo Costa in June has stated he will wait as long as it takes to get his opportunity.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Audience member asks Dana White for UFC contract during news conference — and he might actually get one



An audience member at a news conference asked UFC President Dana White for a fight contract in what may be one of the most bizarre moments of the year for the promoter.

During Thursday's presser for UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, media members and fans were asked to line up behind microphones to ask fighters on the card — and White — some questions.

'If he wins that night, I'll sign him!'

About 30 minutes into the news conference, a man wearing a plain white T-shirt stepped up to the mic and grabbed it firmly.

"I am an undefeated elite athlete from Tajikistan. Nabotov Dorobshokh, nine wins, zero losses," the man said.

The unknown fighter then begged the UFC president for a chance at fighting in the promotion: "Dana, I don't have a question, I came here for a fight on short notice. I've never had a manager, I did it all by myself, please give me a chance. Dana, I want to fight in the UFC, please give me a chance, I'm ready, please give me, Dana."

The crowd erupted in support for Dorobshokh as the UFC president smirked.

"Umm ..." White paused, looking confused. "What's your record?" he then asked.

"9-0," Dorobshokh responded.

White then asked what weight he fights at — and with a translator's assistance, White and the audience learned Dorobshokh is a "lightweight," or 155 pounds.

In a video posted to X, White invited the fighter to the stage, shook his hand, and then directed him to some staff members off-screen before moving on to the next question.

It was later revealed that the UFC immediately went to work with the unknown fighter. White explained in a subsequent interview with TMZ that his team got him on a card in South Korea.

White told TMZ that the promotion ZFN, started by UFC legend Chan Sung Jung, is hosting the event in South Korea in December. White said he will the watch the new prospect's bout while he's in the country filming his own YouTube show, "Dana White: Lookin' for a Fight."

"I'm going to have [Jung] put that kid on the card, and we're going to find out what he's got," White declared. "If he wins that night, I'll sign him!"

White may have been hesitant to put Dorobshokh in a UFC-related event after discovering the fighter's record is actually 7-0, two fewer wins than he had originally claimed. Even when factoring in Dorobshokh's amateur fights, it's hard to see where the Tajik fighter got to nine wins.

It's not usual for the occasional Russian MMA fighter to have a fight record discrepancy due to the validity of some regional fight promotions in the country.

UFC 308 airs Saturday, while ZFN's Z-Fight Night 2 takes place Dec. 14.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

'You are not compatible with America': UFC's Sean Strickland slams fellow fighter over ties to 'terrorist dictator'



UFC No. 1 contender Sean Strickland delivered harsh comments toward Chechnya-born UFC fighter Khamzat Chimaev.

Strickland has typically been an open book in terms of his political views and opinions throughout his career, which have included derogatory statements and claims about Chimaev.

Chimaev, on the other hand, has seemingly enjoyed playing the bad guy role and at times riled up the crowd with his antics.

"I'm the most dangerous guy here, I'm coming for everyone, I kill everybody! Allahu Akbar!" Chimaev told Joe Rogan in a post-fight interview at UFC 279 in 2022.

'You should not be allowed in this country. You [sold] your soul to a terrorist dictator.'

In a recent Instagram post, Strickland lashed out at Chimaev and questioned whether or not he should be allowed in the United States due to his apparent ties to unsavory figures.

"I love how the world just over looks this guys past... Builds a life in Sweden, goes and becomes best friends with an absolute monster who pretty much bought him like a W.. then when the leash got too tight he fled to the middle east," Strickland said, per BJPenn.com.

"You should not be allowed in this country. You [sold] your soul to a terrorist dictator... You are not compatible with America. Thank god we don't do drone trikes in that part of the sand pit," the middleweight continued. "Sick of the UFC forgetting it's an American company," Strickland added.

Strickland is perhaps making reference to Chimaev's relationship with Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who has received sanctions from the United States over the years for alleged human rights violations.

In 2020, the State Department prohibited Kadyrov, his wife, and his two daughters from traveling to the United States.

Kadyrov, a supporter of the region's MMA athletes, has written about his conversations with Chimaev about the sport and at times seemed like he was dictating his moves.

"During our conversation, Chimaev realized how important his career is for every Chechen and promised to make every effort to recover as soon as possible," Kadyrov wrote in 2021. "In the near future he will fly to the republic, where he will complete a rehabilitation course, hold a training camp and start training."

In a separate statement on Instagram, Strickland also said, "Lmao 'now buy a crypto scam with my name on it.'"

This was in reference to an ordeal in July in which Chimaev was accused of a cryptocurrency pump-and-dump scheme with a coin called Smash. Chimaev's manager denied any connection to the coin after accusations started surfacing, despite Chimaev making a video to promote it.

Following the manager's statements, a man claiming to be involved in the crypto team for the Smash coin said he never spoke directly to Chimaev while admitting his team owned 80% of the coin's supply.

Strickland said at the time he has received similar offers that he turned down.

"I've been offered a ton of money to do this same exact thing...... Crazy man you're rich and still try to scam your fans," he wrote. "That was 100 percent to scam his fans."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Fight knight: Armored Combat Worldwide gets medieval on MMA



MMA? That’s for wimps. Sure, it looks intense — muscles, blood, sweat, the occasional tooth (and fighter) flying into the audience. But, I suggest, we can do better.

We must!

You see, real warriors are not satisfied with just bare fists or submission holds. They need steel. They need armor. They need to bring back the clank of medieval combat.

Beneath the spectacle and flashy armor lies a profound acknowledgment of our innate desire for carnage.

Welcome to the world of armored combat, where men (and the odd woman with a lust for blood) don 50 pounds of full plate and bash each other with swords, axes, and maces — not for honor, not for their king, but for something even more noble: a juicy paycheck in Nashville.

The competitions are, much like MMA, structured into rounds or bouts, where fighters aim to score points through effective strikes and defenses. Although the costumes may appear far-fetched and even comical, the fighting itself is anything but a laughing matter. The matches are intense, with a real risk of serious injury. The next event is scheduled for November 16 at the city’s Municipal Auditorium, and tickets are available now.

Nashvillearmoredcombat.com

Getting medieval

But Nashville, better known for its warm hospitality than for its medieval combat, is far from the only place where this revival of historical fighting is gaining momentum. Armored Combat Worldwide is a sports organization that arranges competitive events for medieval armored combat teams, called “chapters.”

As you can probably tell from the name, the organization is dedicated to supporting armored combat on a global scale. It oversees competitions worldwide, including in the U.S. Each year, the ACW organizes tournaments at both conference and national levels. The performance evaluations from these events are then used by its leaders to select fighters and teams for international competitions, tours, and global showcases.

In short, it’s very serious business. There is a method to the madness.

To be clear, the ACW isn't just about historical reenactments. It's an actual sport where competitors engage in full-contact fights using real medieval weapons like swords, axes, and maces. They wear full suits of armor, each as heavy as the fighters in Nashville. They compete in different formats, from one-on-one duels to team battles, in arenas designed to resemble historical battlefields.

Though you would be forgiven for thinking otherwise, safety is a top priority. Fighters must go through intense training to master their combat skills and handle their heavy armor. The ACW is regulated by the International Medieval Combat Federation. The IMCF’s primary goal is to preserve the historical accuracy of medieval combat techniques while ensuring they are accessible and safe for contemporary audiences and competitors.

Appetite for (controlled) destruction

When I joked about MMA being for wimps, it was meant in good humor. As a fan of UFC since my spotty-faced teenage years in the late 2000s, I have nothing but admiration for the skill, bravery, and sheer intensity of its fighters. Mixed Martial Arts demands extraordinary talent, tenacity, and, at times, almost deluded levels of belief. Many of its athletes, from the great Anderson Silva to the equally great Alex Pereira, are absolute beasts worthy of absolute respect.

Obviously, armored combat isn't meant to challenge or replace UFC. Many readers, I’m sure, never knew it existed, and even now that they do, they mightn’t even care that it does. As for the UFC, anyone with a functioning brain has probably heard of it and its outspoken leader, Dana White.

Primal instincts

Instead, armored combat offers a completely different but somewhat complementary experience. It’s cosplay on cocaine. Beneath the spectacle and flashy armor lies a profound acknowledgment of our innate desire for carnage.

Sigmund Freud, the psychoanalyst famously rumored to have done enough cocaine to kill a small horse, referred to the constructive channeling of this urge as sublimation. In essence, this psychological mechanism involves transforming primal instincts into socially productive activities. Rather than succumbing to potentially destructive impulses, like the abuse of drugs and alcohol, people direct their energy into pursuits that benefit themselves and/or society.

For example, someone with aggressive tendencies might engage in competitive sports to channel their antagonistic proclivities in a socially acceptable manner. They might, for instance, head to Nashville, don armor, and engage in physical combat with another human being or many other human beings.

Armored combatants compete in carefully controlled environments where their skills are celebrated. Moreover, these fighters must display discipline and a high degree of mastery. Beyond the battles, the sport fosters a strong sense of community. In an era of increasing loneliness, this sense of belonging is something to be valued rather than ridiculed.

So what if they look silly? They are having fun with like-minded individuals out there in the "real" world, building memories that will hopefully last for life, barring any serious concussions.

It's clear that many of these participants, most of whom are men, are driven by deep, primal instincts. The need for conflict is undeniable. At least they are channeling these raw impulses in a relatively healthy manner, even if it results in the occasional broken rib or bloodied nose. Freud, I’m sure, would agree.

'Bulls*** that the public believes': Dana White rejects idea that MMA fighters make way more money in boxing than the UFC



UFC President Dana White shut down talking points that fighters make life-changing money by transitioning to boxing from MMA.

Specifically, White said it was "not necessarily true" that MMA fighter turned boxer Francis Ngannou made more money in two boxing matches than he would have ever made in the UFC or other promotions.

Sports Illustrated reported that Ngannou made $10 million off a boxing match against Tyson Fury in 2023, while he reportedly made another $20 million from fighting Anthony Joshua in 2024, according to Forbes.

'Boxing doesn't f***ing work ... it takes a f***ing Saudi trillionaire to make boxing work.'

Reporter Kevin Iole posited that Ngannou banked more in boxing than he ever could in MMA.

"That's not necessarily true," White told Iole on his podcast. "It's not really true. That's the bulls*** that the public believes, but that's not the truth. Total bulls***. That’s that whole myth that makes everyone go, 'Ahh, let's f***ing go to boxing.' It's f***ing bulls***. Boxing don't work," White exclaimed.

Iole, who said he wasn't a fan of crossover events such as Ngannou's, or even fights featuring former YouTuber Jake Paul, asked White why he feels boxing doesn't tend to work out financially for promoters.

"What makes it work?!" White asked rhetorically. "Boxing doesn't f***ing work ... it takes a f***ing Saudi trillionaire to make boxing work."

The UFC boss said he believes that most boxing promotions benefit from massive financial backing from figures with seemingly "unlimited" checkbooks; however the financial backers eventually get tired of the failing model and pull out.

"Even Saudi trillionaires get tired of f***ing bulls***. It's all a myth," White said. "The whole thing you said to me is absolutely not true, it's those type of statements and those type of quotes by the media ... all the people that are trying the boxing thing, they all end up losing s***loads of money."

"The model doesn't work," he added.

At the same time, White recently announced yet again that he is ready to venture into the world of boxing himself, after first indicating he was interested in promoting it in 2017.

He again flirted with the idea in 2019 when he allegedly made key hires in regards to creating a boxing promotion and was hoping to have it running by that October.

"Am I f***ing crazy?! Why do I even think about doing this?!" White said to Iole.

When asked if he thought he had to revamp the payroll structure to make boxing successful, White claimed, "It has to be."

The 55-year-old insisted that the model has already proven to be broken.

White's proposed organization would be called Zuffa Boxing and operate out of the same facilities as the UFC and Power Slap in Las Vegas.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Jake Paul confirmed to be entering MMA following Mike Tyson boxing match: 'It's just about finding the name'



YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul will compete in mixed martial arts following his super fight against boxing legend Mike Tyson.

Paul and Tyson are set to box in November at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Netflix.

Likely in 2025, Paul will get into a cage for the Professional Fighters League in his first pro MMA fight.

PFL CEO Peter Murray insists that Paul is ready to make the jump and will take on a legitimate opponent:

"We have a partnership with Jake and we're looking forward to supporting him in MMA. We're going to stage that mega event next year and more to come on that too, that will happen. There's a number of opponents who continue to line up."

"Conceptually this event continues to getting bigger and bigger. Jake has committed to take on a for real, legitimate fighter. So it'll be a spectacle," Murray said, per Bloody Elbow.

A weight class and opponent are still yet to be determined, however when Paul signed with PFL in January 2023, it was reported that he would fight in a newly-created Super Fight division.

"This is about changing MMA, disrupting, innovating, and creating the next big league," Paul said, according to MMA Junkie. "I've already disrupted boxing, and now it's time to disrupt MMA."

'It would be very, very serious. I would probably start working with either Sean O’Malley's team.'

During a press scrum in August, Paul told the media that while he doesn't want an easy fight, he is still managing his expectations.

"It has to be a fight where it's, like, this is my first MMA fight. So I think I can beat Nate Diaz in my first MMA fight, it would be tough of course. It's a 50/50 fight but I don't want to go into something where I'm going to be outclassed like fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov in my first fight."

Nurmagomedov is widely considered one of the greatest MMA fighters ever, having retired undefeated at 29-0.

Diaz, on the other hand, is more than 10 years older than Paul but still active in MMA with a record of 23-13. Diaz last fought in 2022 when he beat UFC legend Tony Ferguson.

Paul defeated Diaz in boxing in early August in what was a clear defeat but not a dominating performance. Both fighters immediately discussed the possibility of an MMA match following the fight.

"It’s just about finding the name," Paul told media. With the money available, Paul said his team is "ready to make offers" but his opponent needs to have shown that they can draw sales.

As for his MMA training, Paul said, "It would be very, very serious. I would probably start working with either Sean O’Malley's team or maybe Javier Mendez over in California. I would take it very, very seriously, I wouldn't want to lose and I take everything I do seriously, so I would definitely go hard as f***."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!