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Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White are expected to sign an agreement this week to create a partnership between the State Department and UFC, according to reporting by the New York Post.
The memorandum of understanding is reportedly scheduled to be signed on Thursday and would establish a public-private partnership focused on expanding sports diplomacy efforts and promoting the international growth of mixed martial arts.
“UFC is the world’s leading mixed martial arts organization. As an American-founded organization, the UFC has grown into a major global sports platform, reflecting U.S. leadership in modern combat sports promotion, athletic performance standards, and international event production,” a State Department press notice read.
The agreement comes just days before President Donald Trump is expected to host a UFC event on White House grounds as part of celebrations tied to America’s 250th anniversary. According to reports, the June 14 event will feature seven mixed martial arts bouts and an octagon-style cage on the South Lawn of the White House.
The partnership would mark an unusual expansion of the State Department’s sports diplomacy efforts, using mixed martial arts as a tool for international engagement and cultural outreach.
The planned White House event is also facing legal challenges. A lawsuit filed by the Public Integrity Project on behalf of two Virginia residents seeks to block the event, arguing that federal approval procedures and regulatory reviews were not properly followed.
White House officials dismissed the lawsuit, describing it as “an obstructionist, baseless, and dilatory” attempt to halt the event.
Construction activity for the venue has already begun at the White House complex, according to reports.
The event, named “UFC Freedom 250,” will begin at 8 pm Eastern. The event will stream on Paramount+, with CBS covering the event live. TNT Sports and HBO Max are reportedly airing the event in the United Kingdom.