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The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, defended on Thursday the hosting of a UFC event at the White House, describing it as a "gift to the American people" in celebration of the country's 250th anniversary of independence.
During an event alongside the president of the UFC, Dana White, Rubio stated that the event, named UFC Freedom 250, will provide an opportunity to showcase American culture on a global scale and attract the attention of millions of people worldwide.
According to the head of U.S. diplomacy, the sporting event represents a unique way to celebrate history and national identity.
"It is a gift to the American people," Rubio said, referring to the event that will take place on the grounds of the White House, making it the first professional sporting event organized at the presidential residence.
The Secretary of State also highlighted the international reach of the UFC and stated that the organization can play a role in Washington's public diplomacy initiatives.
"The UFC has become a global phenomenon by embracing values that resonate far beyond the Octagon: excellence, discipline, opportunity, and meritocracy. Proud to launch a new Sports Diplomacy partnership with @UFC and grateful to host @DanaWhite for the signing of our MOU," the Secretary of State highlighted this Friday in another post.
His statements were made during the signing of a cooperation agreement between the State Department and the mixed martial arts company to promote sports diplomacy programs in various countries.
Rubio even predicted that the global audience for the event could approach one billion viewers, a figure far higher than that of traditional sporting events like the Super Bowl.
To illustrate his optimism, he compared the potential impact of the function to historically significant moments that received extensive media coverage, such as the arrival of man on the Moon.
The UFC Freedom 250 event is scheduled to take place on the south lawn of the White House as part of the activities organized by the Donald Trump administration to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States.
The event will be headlined by a fight between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje and will feature thousands of in-person attendees, along with extensive television and digital streaming coverage.
The initiative has generated both enthusiasm among mixed martial arts fans and criticism from those who deem it inappropriate to turn the White House into the venue for a combat sports event. Nevertheless, the Republican administration has defended the project as a nationwide celebration meant to highlight American popular culture.
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