During an exclusive tour of the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas for Entertainment Tonight, UFC CEO Dana White offered his thoughts on national anthems at sporting events, explaining why the UFC has long avoided them and why that policy is about to change.
White was discussing UFC Freedom 250, a card scheduled for June 14th on the South Lawn of the White House to mark the country’s 250th birthday, when the subject came up. He confirmed that country artist Zac Brown would be performing the national anthem that night.
“We don’t do the national anthem,” White said. “One of the things that drives me crazy with boxing is they got to sing two national anthems and all this stuff before the fight starts. We’re an international business. I mean, we have people from everywhere. So we could end up singing two national anthems that are not even from this country, and plus the whole world is watching us. We’re in over a billion homes worldwide. So I don’t do it.”
White made clear that the White House event represents a rare exception to that rule, one he tied directly to the significance of the occasion.
“This will be the first time in a very long time, since like UFC double digits, that we’ve done the national anthem,” he said, “and Zac Brown will be doing it.”
White also addressed those who might view the event through a political lens, pushing back on that characterization. “It’s definitely not a political event,” he said. “You can be far left, far right, or right down the middle. This is the 250th birthday of America. We’re going to tell the story and the history of America. Most of the people of the 4,000 that will be there will be military from every branch. It’s Americans coming together and celebrating the history and the birthday of America.”
He added that anticipation for the event has been unlike anything he has seen. “According to the president, he said in everything that he’s ever done as far as putting out events in his life, he’s never had more requests for tickets than this.”
White also made a bold promise to anyone lucky enough to attend or tune in. “This is what I will guarantee you,” he said. “It is the most exciting live sporting event you will ever see.”
