New FBI director Kash Patel is looking to beef up the training his agents receive and that may result in a relationship with the UFC.
During a teleconference on Wednesday with the 55 heads of the various FBI field offices across the United States, Patel reportedly proposed enhancing the agency’s martial arts training with help from fighters and coaches from the UFC. Multiple outlets reported that Patel floated the idea long with potentially allowing the UFC to develop programs to help with the physical fitness of agents working with the FBI.
“If they’re trying to up their physical fitness, the UFC is very specific in their fitness,” Rich Frankel, the former special agent in charge of the FBI’s Newark, N.J., office, told ABC News.
Of course, the UFC has maintained a very close relationship with the new administration, which was led by UFC CEO Dana White and his longstanding friendship with President Donald Trump. White campaigned for Trump during his push for re-election and even spoke during the celebration after he won this past November.
Just days after his victory, Trump attended UFC 309 in New York City and sat cageside to watch the action with several members of his family as well as billionaire Elon Musk and musician Kid Rock. Trump has been a mainstay at several UFC events over the past few years and he often praises the athletes who compete in the organization whenever asked about his attendance.
While creating a formal relationship between the FBI and UFC would be something new, many mixed martial artists and trainers have worked with law enforcement in years past.
Greg Jackson, who coaches UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones among many others, has taught self-defense to police officers in New Mexico and even worked with SWAT team officers to help teach them how to physically control people during a raid.
John McCarthy, who is still arguably the best-known referee to ever work in MMA, has worked as a Los Angeles Police Department tactics and self-defense instructor as well.
While Patel reportedly mentioned the possibility of working with the UFC, there’s no word how quickly he might actually attempt to implement a relationship with the promotion or a potential training program as he prepares to guide the agency after being confirmed to his position just days ago.
