‘They do not bend the knee’: US right courts UFC as NFL nods at social justice

Conservatives see Dana White's UFC as an ideal market to engage with a valuable demographic: young men

Last week, Republican senator Ted Cruz posted a photo of himself alongside UFC legend Chuck Liddell. The photo, which showed the two men posing with raised fists, was the latest example of a politician using an athlete's star power, in this case to pander to a younger demographic. It also underscored the American right's ongoing love affair with the UFC.

Over the past few years, UFC has become synonymous with rightwing politics due to its well-documented relationship with former president Donald Trump. As previously reported by the Guardian, the organization effectively became the sports arm of the Maga regime and was an ideal platform for Trump to espouse his political agenda.