The FBI wants to hire the Ultimate Fighting Championship to train its special agents under a one-year deal that would bypass the competitive bidding process typically used for federal contracts, according to federal records.
The agency claimed that the UFC is the only organization qualified to provide the training within its required time frame. The estimated cost of the proposed deal was redacted from the publicly released documents.
The contract would expand an existing partnership between FBI Director Kash Patel and the UFC, which is led by Dana White, a longtime friend and ally of President Donald Trump.
In March, UFC fighters visited the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, for a two-day training seminar. Patel praised the collaboration at the time, calling it a “tremendous opportunity” for agents to learn from elite athletes.
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In June, the UFC staged a major fighting event on the White House South Lawn, attended by Trump and White.
Rob D’Amico, a former member of the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team who also taught defensive tactics, accused Patel of “trying to give his friend Dana White a lucrative contract,” during a Friday interview with MS NOW.
He also called the idea that UFC was the only, or even the best, organization capable of training FBI agents ridiculous.
In a justification published Sept. 30, the FBI said it had researched other training providers but found none capable of delivering the full range of fighting techniques it wanted.
The agency also acknowledged that no other companies had expressed interest because the contract had not been advertised when the justification was prepared.
The proposed training would take place at the FBI Academy in Quantico and cover techniques including striking, grappling, takedowns, weapon defense and ground control.
The FBI said the one-year arrangement would give it time to research other providers before opening a longer-term contract to competition. The notice lists an Oct. 15 deadline for responses. It does not establish that a contract has been awarded.
Patel first floated the idea of bringing UFC fighters into the bureau’s training program shortly after taking office in February 2025.
The March training included prominent UFC fighters Justin Gaethje, Jorge Masvidal and Chris Weidman.
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