Ultimate Fighting Championship and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation are joining forces.
The Las Vegas-based promotion announced on Wednesday that the UFC
will visit FBI Special Agent Academy in Quantico, Va. on March 14
and 15 to host a seminar for academy students and senior FBI
staff.
Curent and former UFC athletes that are expected to be in
attendance include Justin
Gaethje, Jorge
Masvidal, Chris
Weidman, Claudia
Gadelha, Michael
Chandler, Manel Kape
and Renzo
Gracie. UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard will also be part of the
proceedings.
According to a release, the UFC talent “will provide insight into
how they train for competition, as well as demonstrate specific
techniques and tactics, offering a unique perspective to the
students as they prepare to enter the field office.”
“I’m thrilled to announce this historic seminar between the FBI and
the UFC at Quantico,” said FBI director Kash Patel. “This is a
tremendous opportunity for our FBI agents to learn and train with
some of the greatest athletes on earth —-helping the world’s
premier law enforcement agency be even better prepared to protect
the American people. Dana White has changed the game in the mixed
martial arts industry and we’re extremely honored to be partnered
with him, the professionals, and the UFC. We are grateful for their
shared love of our nation, so that we can better defend her.”
A New Training Option
The release states that the collaboration is part of an “overall
initiative by the FBI to provide its agents with exciting,
innovative training options.”
“I have tremendous respect for the FBI and the work they do every
day to protect this country,” White said. “Our UFC fighters are
some of the baddest men and women on the planet and they are
heading to Quantico to train the best FBI agents in mixed martial
arts. It’s an incredible opportunity for our athletes to
experience, and we’re proud to support the FBI in strengthening
their defense techniques.”