Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a memorandum of understanding with UFC President and CEO Dana White on June 11, 2026, establishing a public-private partnership to advance sports diplomacy initiatives and develop educational programming tied to mixed martial arts.
The agreement recognizes sports as a powerful tool of diplomacy and leverages the UFC’s global platform to engage international audiences and enhance cultural exchange programs through the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Under the partnership, UFC athletes and coaches will serve as sports ambassadors through the Department’s Sports Envoy program, leading training clinics for young international athletes worldwide. The initiative aims to promote values such as discipline, perseverance, sportsmanship, and excellence while supporting the global growth of mixed martial arts.
During the signing ceremony, Rubio referred to the UFC as the “United Nations of fighting” and emphasized the sport’s unique ability to bring people together across cultural and geographical divides. “We are so divided by so many different things,” he said, “but there are only a handful of things that bring people together in one place at one time, united by their interest in one thing.”
The deal follows a similar partnership the State Department signed with the National Football League in January 2026, marking part of the Trump administration’s broader “Decade of Sport in America” initiative. Under the NFL agreement, current and former players and coaches serve as cultural ambassadors during international games and sporting events.
The timing of the UFC partnership precedes UFC Freedom 250, scheduled for June 14, 2026, on the South Lawn of the White House, marking the first-ever mixed martial arts event held at the presidential residence. Rubio claimed that one billion people around the globe will watch the event, underscoring the sport’s international reach and appeal as a diplomatic tool.
Sources
- U.S. Department of State — Official announcement of sports diplomacy partnership with UFC, signed June 11, 2026
- The Hill — Coverage of Rubio’s remarks and public-private partnership details
- Yahoo Sports — Reporting on UFC’s global sports diplomacy partnership and viewership expectations
