Rubio, UFC forge sports diplomacy pact

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will join Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President and CEO Dana White this week to sign a memorandum of understanding aimed at expanding sports diplomacy and supporting the global growth of mixed martial arts, the State Department announced.

The signing ceremony is scheduled for June 11 at the US Department of State and will mark what officials described as a new public-private partnership between the US government and the world's largest mixed martial arts organisation.

According to a State Department notice, the agreement is intended to "enhance sports diplomacy initiatives and collaborate on the global growth of mixed martial arts."

The announcement comes as the UFC continues to expand its international footprint and attract audiences across Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, turning mixed martial arts into one of the fastest-growing global sports.

The State Department said additional details of the partnership would be released after the signing ceremony.

The agreement reflects a growing effort by Washington to use sport as a tool of public diplomacy and international engagement. Sports exchanges have long been part of US diplomatic outreach programmes, helping to build people-to-people ties and cultural connections beyond traditional government channels.

In its announcement, the department highlighted UFC's global reach and influence, describing it as "the world's leading mixed martial arts organization."

"As an American-founded organization, the UFC has grown into a major global sports platform, reflecting US leadership in modern combat sports promotion, athletic performance standards, and international event production," the State Department said.