Several top UFC fighters are headed to Quantico, Virginia, this weekend to train FBI agents in what officials are calling a historic partnership between law enforcement and the mixed martial arts world.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the event and described it as a first-of-its-kind seminar at the FBI’s Special Agent Academy.
Patel said the training will allow agents to work directly with some of the most accomplished fighters in the sport.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for our FBI agents to learn and train with some of the greatest athletes on Earth,” Patel said in a statement announcing the event.
The seminar will take place on Saturday and Sunday at Quantico and will be open to both FBI academy students and senior staff members.
According to Patel, the goal is to strengthen the defensive skills and physical preparedness of the bureau’s agents.
He said partnering with professional fighters could help agents better prepare for dangerous real-world situations.
The training sessions will feature instruction from several well-known UFC fighters.
The group includes interim UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, former middleweight champion Chris Weidman, and former title challenger Michael Chandler.
Also attending the seminar are Jorge Masvidal, Cláudia Gadelha, top flyweight contender Manel Kape, and legendary Brazilian jiu-jitsu figure Renzo Gracie.
UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard will also participate in the event.
The fighters will demonstrate how they train for professional competition and will show agents specific techniques used in mixed martial arts.
That includes grappling methods, striking strategies, and defensive maneuvers.
Patel said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening national security and law enforcement readiness.
“We are grateful for their shared love of our nation so that we can better defend her,” he said.
UFC CEO Dana White also praised the collaboration between the sport and federal law enforcement.
White said the fighters involved were eager to help train the nation’s top investigators and agents, as Yahoo reported.
“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.”
White added that the event represents an exciting opportunity for the athletes as well.
“It’s an incredible opportunity for our athletes to experience, and we’re proud to support the FBI in strengthening their defense techniques,” he said.
The seminar is believed to be the first time UFC fighters have formally trained agents at the FBI academy.
Quantico serves as the central training location for new special agents and leadership within the bureau.
The academy has long hosted outside experts to provide specialized instruction in areas ranging from tactical driving to defensive tactics.
But bringing in professional mixed martial artists represents a new type of collaboration.
Officials say the training will focus on real-world techniques that can help agents in dangerous situations.
The partnership also highlights the growing mainstream influence of mixed martial arts.
Once considered a niche sport, the UFC now regularly collaborates with military units, law enforcement organizations, and government agencies.
The event also comes as the UFC prepares for a major celebration later this year.
Justin Gaethje is scheduled to fight at a special UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House on June 14.
The event will coincide with the 250th anniversary of American independence and also fall on President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday.
