The president has lengthy been a UFC fan and sports activities fanatic, often attending fights and sustaining an everlasting friendship with UFC CEO Dana White.
President Donald Trump was met with a standing ovation and cheers as he entered Miami’s Kaseya Heart for a UFC match on April 12.
Whereas strolling to his cageside seat Saturday night, Trump shook fingers with supporters as some waved trademark pink “Make America Nice Once more” hats. Trump, who mentioned it was a “nice honor” to obtain such a response from the group, attended the occasion for a number of hours earlier than flying again north to his residence in Palm Seashore.
“It says we’re doing a very good job. If we weren’t doing a very good job, we’d get the alternative,” he instructed reporters aboard Air Pressure One.
Trump has lengthy been a UFC fan and sports activities fanatic, often attending main fights and sustaining an everlasting friendship with UFC President and CEO Dana White.
The president entered the Miami enviornment with White by his aspect. Trump embraced podcast host Joe Rogan, a former UFC commentator and analyst. Rogan and White Home adviser Elon Musk sat beside the president through the occasion.
Different members from the administration who attended embody Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., FBI Director Kash Patel, Director of Nationwide Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Whereas Democrats and a few Republicans have been important of Trump’s insurance policies, significantly a number of the latest tariff bulletins, these considerations have been absent on the UFC occasion on Saturday.
“Each one in every of them got here up on the finish, they usually have been nice,” Trump mentioned. “I imply, they’re all warriors, modern-day warriors.”
Fighter Dominick Reyes even walked over to the aspect of the Octagon after he gained his match and acknowledged the president. He took a photograph with Trump following a post-fight interview.
Australian Alexander Volkanovski gained his tenth championship struggle in a row, prevailing in opposition to Brazil’s Diego Lopes early Sunday morning by way of unanimous resolution within the featherweight matchup.
President Donald Trump attends a blended martial arts struggle at UFC 314 in Miami on April 12, 2025. Lynne Sladky/AP Photograph
Saturday was the president’s first UFC occasion since beginning his second time period earlier this yr. It occurred weeks after Trump attended the Saudi-sponsored LIV golf match at his Miami golf membership.
In February, Trump attended the Daytona 500 and the Tremendous Bowl. He additionally sat cageside on the UFC championship struggle in New York in November, not lengthy after profitable the election. Some have seen the president’s shut ties to UFC as serving to him among the many young-male voting bloc.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
