UFC flyweight champion Brandon Royval has publicly rejected the idea of competing in the mixed martial arts fight that President Trump is reportedly planning for the White House lawn next year. Royval didn’t hold back his opinion during a recent podcast appearance, stating that the concept of fighting for the president’s personal viewing pleasure feels less like a sporting event and more like something out of The Hunger Games.
You’ve got to respect a fighter who stands his ground, and Royval made it crystal clear why he won’t be participating. According to Daily Dot, he argued that fighting in that specific venue would mean performing for people who don’t actually care about him or the sport itself. It goes from betting scandals to performing for billionaires.
“I don’t give a f*** about any of our political figures right now, and to fight in front of them just seems like some f***ing Hunger Games type of f***ing s***,” the flyweight champ said. He continued, explaining that he wouldn’t bother fighting “in front of a bunch of f***ing billionaires and rich people that f***ing could give a s*** less about me.”
UFC doesn’t have the support from its own champions
While some hosts and fans assumed that any fighter would jump at the chance to fight on the South Lawn, Royval is a hard “no.” He stressed that his focus is on the fans who are truly invested in the sport. “I want to fight in front of big crowds, bro,” he stated, emphasizing his desire to fight in front of people that “are fans of MMA and can relate to me.”
This high-profile event has been rumored for months, but UFC CEO Dana White appeared to confirm the plans back in August. White posted on Instagram that “The White House fight is on,” adding, “We got it done today.” The fight is slated to take place next summer as part of the celebrations surrounding America’s 250th anniversary. President Trump has promised a massive audience, suggesting a crowd of 20,000 people and a national TV broadcast.
However, the political spectacle wasn’t Royval’s only concern. He also brought up the highly sensitive issue of identity and current events, joking that he’s “too Mexican-looking” to feel comfortable on federal property. Royval pointed to mass ICE operations happening across the nation as a source of anxiety.
He expressed concern about the possibility of being targeted, saying, “ICE is f***ing suspiciously arresting motherf***ers and, I don’t know, who knows? Next thing you know, I’m in Mexico, I don’t speak Spanish and s***.” It’s a pretty heavy statement, and it shows you that for some athletes, the political atmosphere surrounding the venue is just too much to handle.
