Mar 7, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, UNITED STATES; Sumudaerji (red gloves) fights Jesus Aguilar (blue gloves) during UFC 326 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
FBI Director Kash Patel is facing criticism after inviting Ultimate Fighting Championship, better known as the UFC, stars to Quantico to train his agents.
New FBI agents already receive some of the most intense training in the world — more than 800 hours at Quantico, according to the bureau’s website.
In a statement, Variety reported, Patel called the training seminar 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.”
UFC CEO Dana White, Patel added, “has changed the game in the mixed martial arts industry and we’re extremely honored to be partnered with him, the professionals and the UFC. We are grateful for their shared love of our nation, so that we can better defend her.”
Critics slammed Patel online.
“Hey maybe instead of playing karate with celebrities @Kash_Patel could do his f—— job for once and manage the terrorist threats from Iran?” commented former Obama National Security Council spokesperson Tommy Vietor.
“With a pressing counter intelligence/terrorist need, Kash Patel deems training agents to fight in cages as a priority. We are not a serious country,” remarked former U.S. Ambassador Luis Moreno.
“Expect ridiculous photos and content of Patel training jiu jitsu and shamelessly boondoggling around UFC fighters while trying to look cool and tough,” noted political commentator Paul Rieckhoff, the founder of several veterans’ nonprofits. “While Nancy Guthrie remains missing, a makeshift bomb was thrown near Gracie Mansion, and homeland threats coming out of Iran from drones and other attack methods skyrocket nationwide.”
Rieckhoff called Patel “not a serious leader,” whose “incompetence is making us all less safe.”
“And no way UFC tactics will be used against protesters and dissenters, right?” asked journalist Nancy Levine Stearns.