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Quantico Today
By the People, for the People
FBI Agents to Train with UFC Fighters for Self-Defense
The FBI partners with the Ultimate Fighting Championship to enhance agent preparedness through specialized mixed martial arts instruction.
Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:04pm
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The FBI is launching a new training program in partnership with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to provide specialized instruction in mixed martial arts (MMA) to its agents. The seminars, scheduled for March 14-15 at the FBI Special Agent Academy in Quantico, Virginia, will be led by current and former UFC fighters, including champions and top contenders. The goal is to equip agents with practical self-defense techniques and improve their overall preparedness for high-pressure situations.
Why it matters
This unprecedented collaboration between the FBI and UFC signals a growing recognition of the importance of close-quarters combat skills for law enforcement personnel. MMA training encompasses a range of disciplines that can cultivate physical fitness, mental fortitude, and strategic thinking - all valuable assets for agents facing unpredictable and physically challenging scenarios.
The details
FBI Director Kash Patel, a known UFC enthusiast, initiated the partnership, believing that training with elite athletes will enhance the agency's capabilities. The seminars will cover techniques in striking, wrestling, and grappling, with the aim of equipping agents with practical self-defense skills. Several prominent UFC fighters, including Justin Gaethje, Jorge Masvidal, Chris Weidman, Claudia Gadelha, Michael Chandler, Manel Kape, and Renzo Gracie, are scheduled to lead the training sessions.
- The training seminars are scheduled for March 14-15, 2026.
The players
Kash Patel
The FBI Director who initiated the partnership with the UFC, believing that training with elite athletes will enhance the agency's capabilities.
Dana White
The CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, who emphasized the value of this exchange and the opportunity for UFC fighters to train the best FBI agents in mixed martial arts.
What they’re saying
“This represents a tremendous opportunity for our FBI agents to learn and train with some of the greatest athletes on earth – helping the world's premier law enforcement agency be even better prepared to protect the American people.”
— Kash Patel, FBI Director (newsy-today.com)
“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. It's an incredible opportunity for our athletes to experience, and we're proud to support the FBI in strengthening their defense techniques.”
— Dana White, UFC CEO (newsy-today.com)
What’s next
The initial announcement indicates this is a historic first seminar, but the potential for future collaborations between the FBI and UFC exists.
The takeaway
This partnership between the FBI and UFC represents an innovative approach to law enforcement training, recognizing the unique benefits of MMA in cultivating physical fitness, mental fortitude, and strategic thinking - all valuable assets for agents facing unpredictable and physically challenging scenarios.
