UFC fighters will lead the training at the FBI Academy in Virginia. The FBI director called it a “tremendous opportunity” for agents to “train with some of the greatest athletes on earth.”
“The All-American,” “Gamebred,” “Iron” and several other Ultimate Fighting Championship grapplers have been tapped by FBI Director Kash Patel to train agents how to body-slam bad guys.
The first-ever FBI training session led by professional mixed martial artists, including UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard, will take place Saturday and Sunday at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for our FBI agents to learn and train with some of the greatest athletes on earth — helping the world’s premier law enforcement agency be even better prepared to protect the American people,” Patel said in a statement released by UFC.
UFC did not say what type of combat techniques would be included in the training, but it said its fighters “will provide insight into how they train for competition, as well as demonstrate specific techniques and tactics, offering a unique perspective to the students as they prepare to enter the field office.”
UFC said the “all-star” crew includes Chris Weidman (The All-American), Jorge Masvidal (Gamebred), Michael Chandler (Iron) and others.
Told of Patel’s plan to have UFC fighters train agents, former FBI agent Chip Massey at first laughed and then quickly turned serious.
“The FBI has a full complement of people who know how to train agents going out into the field in hand-to-hand combat,” Massey said. “I don’t see the benefit of having UFC fighters demonstrating for FBI agents how to beat people up.”
