Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

MineralMan

(151,698 posts)
Tue May 26, 2026, 02:04 PM Tuesday

So, Has Anyone Gone to a UFC Event?

I haven't. Who goes to them. What's the audience going to look like at the White House? I've seen a couple of them briefly on the TV and the audiences have seemed rowdy and rude, for the most part. Celebrating people hurting other people seems to be the order of the day.

So, what might we expect from this?

42 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
So, Has Anyone Gone to a UFC Event? (Original Post) MineralMan Tuesday OP
You'd have to pay my survivors and accompany my remains... hlthe2b Tuesday #1
Thanks for correctly calling it UFC Just_Vote_Dem Tuesday #2
So, it's a fake fight for a fake 'Resident... sheshe2 Tuesday #22
It's not fake. bottomofthehill Tuesday #32
Wrestling is not choreographef GenThePerservering Tuesday #33
I wouldn't go to one of these train wrecks if you paid me to do it. calimary Tuesday #3
If you've ever been to a monster truck rally or a dwarf-toss or a hot-dog eating contest Ocelot II Tuesday #4
I don't go to any of those things. MineralMan Tuesday #12
I was pretty sure you didn't attend such events, but we all have our secrets.... Ocelot II Tuesday #25
I'm secretly a Juggalo. MineralMan Tuesday #31
No. H2O Man Tuesday #5
I would have been right with you. Lochloosa Tuesday #10
January 6th Johnny2X2X Tuesday #6
Seems likely. MineralMan Tuesday #13
Not my jam fujiyamasan Tuesday #7
Nope. anciano Tuesday #8
I can't stand intentional violence. Diamond_Dog Tuesday #9
Noooooo! cksmithy Tuesday #11
Not a UFC event, but I've gone to a couple of MMA events EdmondDantes_ Tuesday #14
Are football players who are celebrated for hitting other players hard being celebrated for violence? SamuelTheThird Tuesday #17
That's my point. EdmondDantes_ Tuesday #23
It's not the fighters that bother me. MineralMan Tuesday #18
They fight in Europe at soccer matches. Melon Tuesday #20
I used to box and we'd go to the local MMA GenThePerservering Tuesday #34
I think fighting in general has always had a level of rigged matches Melon Tuesday #36
Football (real football, not American gridiron style) violence here in Europe (and globally) is far more common amongst Celerity Wednesday #39
Then the problem isn't the UFC audience. EdmondDantes_ Tuesday #24
Jet Engine Tractor Pull & Monster Truck duckworth969 Tuesday #15
the attendants will be the same people fantase56 Tuesday #16
I heard it was unsafe to have an event like this without a ginormous bunker-ballroom struggle4progress Tuesday #19
I used to like UFC when it started Johonny Tuesday #21
Yes, it was more interesting when actual traditional martial artists competed. oberle Wednesday #40
Only if *rump is in the ring/cage, but this UFC crap is just him tapping his inner Commodus Uncle Joe Tuesday #26
I was a huge MMA fan until the fighters all became MAGA obamanut2012 Tuesday #27
I never was into UFC AZProgressive Tuesday #28
There is a very fine line between this type of sport and bloodlust. taxi Tuesday #29
This is going to be limited to 5k guests and invitees of Dana White and flvegan Tuesday #30
The audience will be as much of a cartoon GenThePerservering Tuesday #35
Pretty Sure You Answered Your Own Questions! ColoringFool Tuesday #37
Would it surprise anyone if they left it all in place BlueSpot Tuesday #38
How are black flies around this time? purr-rat beauty Wednesday #41
UFC fan since Spike days yellowdogdemocrat1 Wednesday #42

hlthe2b

(114,841 posts)
1. You'd have to pay my survivors and accompany my remains...
Tue May 26, 2026, 02:10 PM
Tuesday

That is the ONLY damned way I'd go to this debacle.

Just_Vote_Dem

(3,681 posts)
2. Thanks for correctly calling it UFC
Tue May 26, 2026, 02:11 PM
Tuesday

Some people keep referring to it as wrestling, which it's not. Wrestling is choreographed and if someone actually gets hurt, it's a mistake, whereas injury in UFC is apparently a drawing point, mores the pity. Never attended one but have seen a match on tv. I much prefer the fake, choreographed stuff, better on my conscience as I know the person getting pounded on is not really getting hurt.

sheshe2

(98,634 posts)
22. So, it's a fake fight for a fake 'Resident...
Tue May 26, 2026, 03:59 PM
Tuesday

In a new carnival tent, that used to be Our Peoples House. What a f**king embarrassment we have become. This is a three-ring circus, bring in the clowns.

If the White House is safe enough for Trump to host this fucking thing, why does he need a “drone proof” ballroom?

JoJoFromJerz (@jojofromjerz.bsky.social) 2026-05-26T17:51:19.973Z

GenThePerservering

(3,815 posts)
33. Wrestling is not choreographef
Tue May 26, 2026, 08:49 PM
Tuesday

And fake - next to boxing it's the oldest event in the Olympiad. Are you thinking of WWE? We actual wrestling fans (and grappler) call that "wrasslin'"
😁

calimary

(91,012 posts)
3. I wouldn't go to one of these train wrecks if you paid me to do it.
Tue May 26, 2026, 02:11 PM
Tuesday

Some things are just non-negotiable.

Ocelot II

(131,457 posts)
4. If you've ever been to a monster truck rally or a dwarf-toss or a hot-dog eating contest
Tue May 26, 2026, 02:14 PM
Tuesday

or even to the 508 Bar downtown (which I think closed recently, for good reason), you'll have a good idea.

MineralMan

(151,698 posts)
12. I don't go to any of those things.
Tue May 26, 2026, 02:38 PM
Tuesday

I don't even like the crowds at football games. I just think it's a very odd thing to do at the White House. I don't know if it's going to be televised, but I suppose it will be. What a way to represent the USA!

Ocelot II

(131,457 posts)
25. I was pretty sure you didn't attend such events, but we all have our secrets....
Tue May 26, 2026, 05:47 PM
Tuesday


And yes, it's a very odd and very tacky thing to do at the White House, but tacky describes the Zeitgeist these days.

H2O Man

(79,318 posts)
5. No.
Tue May 26, 2026, 02:15 PM
Tuesday

Boxing, yes. I sat ringside in the same row as Senator Ted Kennedy & family at the second Frazier vs Ali fight.

Johnny2X2X

(24,460 posts)
6. January 6th
Tue May 26, 2026, 02:15 PM
Tuesday

Last edited Tue May 26, 2026, 03:16 PM - Edit history (1)

Pretty much the same crowd that assaulted law enforcement at the nation's capitol on January 6th, 2021.

fujiyamasan

(2,091 posts)
7. Not my jam
Tue May 26, 2026, 02:17 PM
Tuesday

I don’t have the time or money to waste going to one of those. I think tickets are usually pretty pricey.

Closest was going to a sports bar to meet a friend while the fight was on. Oddly enough this was the one back in summer 2024 when Trump showed up.

Diamond_Dog

(41,244 posts)
9. I can't stand intentional violence.
Tue May 26, 2026, 02:21 PM
Tuesday

So …. No way in hell for me.
TSF seems to love watching people hurt each other. What does that say about him.

EdmondDantes_

(2,145 posts)
14. Not a UFC event, but I've gone to a couple of MMA events
Tue May 26, 2026, 02:42 PM
Tuesday

It's not significantly different than boxing. I was part of a martial arts group where one member was an MMA fighter and we went to a couple of his fights to support him.

It's not super blood thirsty and people tap before most injuries happen. The referees are trained to stop fights when someone can't continue.

What you see as celebrating violence or hurting other people others see as a skill. It's a matter of perspective. Are football players who are celebrated for hitting other players hard being celebrated for violence? There's an awful lot of violence on every snap with men weighing 250-300+ lbs smashing into each other. Hockey still has fights and goons.

SamuelTheThird

(1,301 posts)
17. Are football players who are celebrated for hitting other players hard being celebrated for violence?
Tue May 26, 2026, 03:31 PM
Tuesday

Yes? ...and they have the brain injuries to demonstrate it

EdmondDantes_

(2,145 posts)
23. That's my point.
Tue May 26, 2026, 04:15 PM
Tuesday

Singling out the UFC audience doesn't match the reality that we often celebrate violence. But the NFL audience isn't caricatured like the UFC audience is.

MineralMan

(151,698 posts)
18. It's not the fighters that bother me.
Tue May 26, 2026, 03:40 PM
Tuesday

It is the audience. Tt gets all fired up. Fights sometimes break out in the audience as well. Same with football games. The assholes in the audience get even more assholish. I remember one football game i went to out of town. My team was playing their team, and I word some team merch. I got threatened by assholes in the audience. I actually left. You only have to tell me you'll kick my ass once.

Melon

(1,779 posts)
20. They fight in Europe at soccer matches.
Tue May 26, 2026, 03:54 PM
Tuesday

I’ve been to numerous MMA matches as well. I bought my date a glasses of wine at one. I’ve never seen a fight in the crowd although these were not UFC. I can imagine people shelling out $500 a seat plus are fighting anywhere. Maybe at Philadelphia UFC.

It was a sporting event. I also have attended baseball, football, hockey etc. I’d go to boxing if I could get good tickets at a reasonable big name event.

At the MMA. Fights we had good tickets and we dressed nice. This was not an event where you wear a southern flag tshirt. The woman ate wearing nice dresses etc and the front rows may be on television. I personally don’t see a political side of going to watch sports. The events are more popular in California than anywhere else.

GenThePerservering

(3,815 posts)
34. I used to box and we'd go to the local MMA
Tue May 26, 2026, 08:56 PM
Tuesday

Fights put on by the local club - some very good talent and even some state and national ranked fighters- nothing fancy, held in the local community college gym, people cheering on their friends, all ages. It was great fun, good fighters and real respect. I miss those.

UFC is just a hot mess - the participants are real athletes, but it's just theatre.

Melon

(1,779 posts)
36. I think fighting in general has always had a level of rigged matches
Tue May 26, 2026, 09:30 PM
Tuesday

Back with boxing and now mma. Big money attracts payoffs. I don’t like that.

Celerity

(55,066 posts)
39. Football (real football, not American gridiron style) violence here in Europe (and globally) is far more common amongst
Wed May 27, 2026, 02:53 AM
Wednesday

our hooligan style 'fans' than the players. If the players hit another player violently they are (or at least should be) red carded, ejected, and suspended for multiple games.

EdmondDantes_

(2,145 posts)
24. Then the problem isn't the UFC audience.
Tue May 26, 2026, 04:17 PM
Tuesday

It's soccer hooligans, it's people in the audience at concerts, etc.

fantase56

(501 posts)
16. the attendants will be the same people
Tue May 26, 2026, 03:29 PM
Tuesday

that would go to see public executions or lynchings in the old days

Johonny

(26,705 posts)
21. I used to like UFC when it started
Tue May 26, 2026, 03:59 PM
Tuesday

But it really no longer delivers what it promised, and is really boring a lot of the time. I don't seek it out anymore.

The "rules" of kick boxing and boxing sort of allow for more interesting events, IMO.

Uncle Joe

(65,673 posts)
26. Only if *rump is in the ring/cage, but this UFC crap is just him tapping his inner Commodus
Tue May 26, 2026, 05:58 PM
Tuesday


Thanks for the thread MineralMan

obamanut2012

(29,534 posts)
27. I was a huge MMA fan until the fighters all became MAGA
Tue May 26, 2026, 05:59 PM
Tuesday

The few decent ones, men and women, were forced out.

It will be a MAGA, trashy fightfest.

AZProgressive

(30,017 posts)
28. I never was into UFC
Tue May 26, 2026, 06:18 PM
Tuesday

even though I was part of the targeted demographic when it first launched. I always and still do prefer boxing.

taxi

(2,769 posts)
29. There is a very fine line between this type of sport and bloodlust.
Tue May 26, 2026, 06:25 PM
Tuesday

A tightrope walker is fine until he isn't. A racer is fine until he isn't and in a sport where one of its purposes is to display how much punishment one can take before losing a fighter is fine until he isn't. These are the lines between life and death that people are encouraging with their support. It is only a matter of time before the line is crossed. Whether it's physically disfigured, disabled, or death doesn't matter to those supporters. They will shrug it off as if it was some kind of freak event and that it wasn't what they came to see.

flvegan

(66,577 posts)
30. This is going to be limited to 5k guests and invitees of Dana White and
Tue May 26, 2026, 06:41 PM
Tuesday

the White House. So expect wealthy assholes, celebrities and "influencers" to make up most of the attendees on site. The alleged 100k that will watch it on some sort of giant screen could be anybody as there aren't any tickets being sold, I don't believe. I don't think it will be all useless MAGA chuds since it's a free event and for some reason, UFC (a/k/a people beating the shit out of each other) is well received by a lot of dems as well. I'm not sure why, but here we are.

GenThePerservering

(3,815 posts)
35. The audience will be as much of a cartoon
Tue May 26, 2026, 08:59 PM
Tuesday

as the show. A lineup like those losers who were lined up behind Dump for his inauguration.

BlueSpot

(1,336 posts)
38. Would it surprise anyone if they left it all in place
Tue May 26, 2026, 10:17 PM
Tuesday

And by August they're having immigrants fighting lions?

purr-rat beauty

(1,502 posts)
41. How are black flies around this time?
Wed May 27, 2026, 07:53 AM
Wednesday

Also....be wary of a false flag

Oh...and money laundering too

42. UFC fan since Spike days
Wed May 27, 2026, 08:52 AM
Wednesday

I’ve watched UFC for about 25 years, maybe longer, since they were on a little channel called Spike and their first event in Denver. Before I begin it is sad what has happened to the UFC, because of Dana White, and there is a reason why this decade long fan doesn’t watch a lot of fights anymore.

I was always, and still am, happy that the UFC and MMA exist. Kids that wrestled in high school now have somewhere they can continue their skills after high school or college. Young men and women who have practiced disciplines such as Kung Fu, Karate, Judo, Jui-Jitso, muay thai, etc., now can compete at a sport (yes, it is a sport and not violence), can continue to work towards a job, yes a job, that can pay them and they can have fun, compete, and might end up being millionaires just by being competent at what they do.

There are rounds, just like boxing, weight classes, and referees who stop the rounds.

What has the changed is the hoopla around the sport. Long ago, Dana White, couldn’t find anyone who would allow him to have matches in Las Vegas. He talked to Donald Trump, and he said sure, you can do that in my hotels. This is where his loyalty began. Trump would sit by Dana and ask him questions, such as, “How did that man become so large”, “How can he fight like that?”, just silly questions that a young boy would ask, even though he wasn’t a young man.

As the UFC grew, stars appeared, and the absolute worst and best was Connor McGreggor. His mouth and rhetoric changed the UFC into what it is today. Everyone wanted to be famous like him, and now most of the UFC fighters spew so much sh…t, that a lot of people can’t listen to them. The fights are still good, just not the circus around them.

MMA is a sport and might someday be in the Olympics, just like boxing.

And by the way, I am a very liberal OLD woman.

But I will not be watching the white house spectacle. He has literally almost ruined this sport for me and that can be blamed on Dana White, the man who built up this sport and now is ruining it for many lifelong fans.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»So, Has Anyone Gone to a ...