Former pro-Trump UFC fighter trashes White House event over Epstein list

Donald Trump plans to hold a mixed martial arts event on the White House grounds next year, but one formerly diehard MAGA UFC fighter has opted out of the event, telling the president, "I'm good, dude," and referring to the potential crowd as the "Epstein list."

The event, tentatively known simply as "UFC White House," is set take place on the residence's South Lawn on June 14 of next year, a date meant to help it coincide with the United States’ 250th anniversary. The event was first suggested by Trump at a rally in July, and later finalized in late August by UFC CEO Dana White, a longtime MAGA supporter and friend of the president.

Sean Strickland, a highly-ranked former UFC Middleweight Champion with a 29-7 win-loss record, was also once a fervent supporter of Trump and known for espousing many right-wing cultural beliefs. Since Trump returned to the White House in 2025, however, he has gradually disavowed his past support, citing disagreements with Trump's pro-Israel stances, and saying that reelecting him was a "mistake."

Now, Strickland is speaking out against the UFC White House event and expressing opposition to appearing on the fight card, suggesting that it would be a performance for the "Epstein list" instead of MMA fans.

"If there was some kind of inclusion for fans I’d be more [inclined]," Strickland said in a mid-workout video interview shared to X. "But just to go hang out with the f—— Epstein list, I’m good dog. I’m good, dude."

Strickland also said that he was initially up for the idea until hearing about another unspecified fighter who "said he doesn’t really want to fight in front of billionaires."

"And I was like, ‘That makes sense, bro,'" he said.

The UFC White House event will not be open to the general public, leading to the perception by Strickland and others that it will be exclusively for the pleasure of Trump's wealthy associates, though it is also expected to be livestreamed on Paramount+. In a report about Strickland's comments, the Daily Beast summarized the event as being "perceived by some as a spectacle of gladiatorial bloodletting in [Trump's] honor."