US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently commended the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) as being intrinsically American, likening its creation to putting the first man on the moon. Rubio described the ‘whole idea of America’ as ‘audacious’, from its founding onward, highlighting the nation’s history of achieving what others thought impossible.

Rubio’s Remarks

Rubio made these remarks at the State Department, where he inked an agreement to use the American mixed martial arts company as a tool of US diplomacy. He claimed that UFC CEO Dana White ‘and the people around him had a vision’ to create a structure to mixed martial arts events, which has become ‘the United Nations of fighting’, educating Americans about cultures and societies worldwide.

Rubio also expressed excitement about the brand’s ability to expand and reach out to different parts of the world, stating that UFC fights are one of the ‘very few things left in our society, and I would say, in the world that convenes us all’. The upcoming UFC fight at the White House, which will commemorate the 250th anniversary of US independence and President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, is expected to be a historic event, with a potential ‘diplomatic crisis’ unfolding over demand from foreign leaders to attend.

Memorandum of Understanding

Under the newly signed memorandum of understanding between the State Department and UFC, they will engage current and former athletes, coaches, and executives as mentors and cultural ambassadors to deliver overseas clinics, workshops, and training sessions that promote teamwork, leadership, and healthy lifestyles among youth. They will also develop joint educational content using MMA to teach English and leadership skills, while coordinating on international UFC events to showcase American excellence alongside US missions worldwide.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.