UFC president Dana White revealed that former President Donald Trump called him shortly before Tuesday night’s debate against Vice President Kamala Harris.
The first face-to-face clash between Harris and Trump featured plenty of mudslinging as the two candidates went at each other ahead of November’s hotly-anticipated election.
Trump regularly attends UFC shows and on Wednesday White was asked for his thoughts on the debate.
‘I haven’t seen it, but I’ll tell you this. He called me an hour before the debate,’ White – who was promoting his ‘Contender Series – revealed.
‘I don’t know how it went or what happened, but I know he took it seriously. He said: “I look at this like a heavyweight fight. I’m not taking anybody lightly.”‘
White added: ‘I talked to him when I was coming here, right when we got off the plane. I was in LA today.
UFC president Dana White revealed that he spoke to Donald Trump before Tuesday’s debate
According to White, Trump said that he viewed the debate as ‘like a heavyweight fight’
‘First of all, it’s the second time he has had to debate,’ the UFC boss said in reference to the Trump-Joe Biden debate that proved the beginning of the end of the President’s bid for re-election.
‘They didn’t like how the debate turned out. They want to kick that guy [Biden] out. He’s unfit to run, yet he’s still the President of the United States. Now they bring in somebody who wasn’t elected to actually be in there.
‘They’ll only do it on ABC. It was three to one tonight. He was facing three to one.’
When asked if he gave the former President any advice, White replied, ‘I’ll keep that between me and him.’
Harris, who was elected as Vice President and officially nominated by the Democratic Party in the summer, was declared the winner over Trump in DailyMail.com’s snap debate poll after last night’s verbal sparring.
White, Trump, and Kid Rock at UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden in New York City
In the aftermath of the debate, Taylor Swift – the girlfriend of Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce – announced that she’d be endorsing Harris for the office. It’s not clear if there will be another debate in the run up to November’s election.
Trump’s relationship with the UFC goes back to its early years. While the sport of MMA was labeled ‘human cockfighting’ and broadly frowned upon, Trump opened his doors, hosting several events in his New Jersey hotels and casinos.
As the sport and the organization moved into the mainstream, UFC bred superstars such as Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey. Trump has remained close with White and is loved by a large portion of the UFC roster and fanbase.
When the former President attends a fight night, he is typically given a special walkout before the main card and sits cage-side next to White.
Trump is often given a special walkout and sits cage-side next to White at UFC fight nights
The former President is pictured with ex-UFC interim welterweight titlist Colby Covington
Back in June, White praised Trump for his resilience and his love for the United States.
‘You take any of the greatest fighters of all time, Trump is No 1. The most resilient human being I’ve ever met in my life,’ White told One Nation with Brian Kilmeade on Fox News.
‘Why keep doing this? You have money, you have a great life… why keep doing this? The one thing I can tell you – and this is a fact – this guy loves this country.’
‘He loves all Americans – regardless of what color, religion or whatever. He’s not a racist, he’s a good human being,’ White added.
‘He loves America and he cares about this country. Period. End of story. If he wasn’t that type of guy, I would never even associate myself with him.’
White also introduced Trump at the Republican National Convention in July.
