Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
If you were to tell Dana White several months ago that a UFC card headlined by Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz for a fake belt would be the biggest MMA fight of the year, we doubt he’d believe you. Mainly because he almost never allows non-title fights to headline cards … you know, because of the whole brand over individual fighters thing the promotion has going on.
Yet here we are. UFC 244 just went down and was undeniably the biggest deal of 2019 (even with the disappointing end to the main event). Tons of celebrities were there. The Rock himself placed the Baddest Motherf**ker belt around Jorge Masvidal’s waist. Even the president of the United States, Donald Trump, made an appearance and sat cageside. As Masvidal said in a shot on UFC 245’s Usman vs. Covington welterweight championship bout, ‘You don’t see the president showing up for no title fight.’
Watchin fights….. pic.twitter.com/AMLAmv8tVb
— Dana White (@danawhite) November 3, 2019
But did The Donald’s decision to attend UFC 244 boil down to his impeccable taste in quality matchmaking? Or was this an attempt by his team to make up for last week’s embarrassing moment where the president got heartily booed at a World Series game in Washington, DC?
Outsider opinion seemed to assume a UFC event would be full of Trump’s base, the perfect place to show he still has popular support. Beltway pundits say these kinds of optics matter at the moment, especially as impeachment hearings get underway in the capitol. So you better believe his appearance became a political football presented in wildly different ways by different outlets and people.
Fox & Friends insists that Trump was cheered at UFC and that people saying otherwise are being juvenile pic.twitter.com/JH3epHhsAo
— John Whitehouse (@existentialfish) November 3, 2019
Team Trump saw it as a great success with nothing but love:
The crowd at MSG as Trump takes his seat for the UFC fights pic.twitter.com/9ACcWCispp
— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) November 3, 2019
Walking into Madison Square Garden last night with @danawhite for the big @UFC Championship fight was a little bit like walking into a Trump Rally. Plenty of MAGA & KAG present. Great energy. Fantastic job Dana! Heading to D.C. and then to Kentucky for a big @MattBevin Rally…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 3, 2019
Despite the bullshit from blue checkmark Twitter, when we walked into the arena it was overwhelmingly positive. @danawhite said it was the most electrifying entrance he seen in 25 years of doing this. @ufc https://t.co/62dAdDimGD
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 3, 2019
What a joke. You are the most dishonest people. The audience was chanting “Donald Trump, Donald Trump” followed by “USA USA.” Dana White said it was the greatest entrance he has seen into a UFC. I can’t wait until we win again in 2020 to further embarras your profession #FakeNews https://t.co/EpkjBjz6s6
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) November 3, 2019
While others noted it was more of a mixed reaction at best.
Trump has entered the building lol #UFC244 #UFC #TRUMP pic.twitter.com/DhQqiU8Z18
— Joe Mastoloni (@JJMast1) November 3, 2019
Honestly surprised to see Trump booed at Ultimate Fighting Championship. This should be his crowd. pic.twitter.com/r1O1Vs20SR
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) November 3, 2019
Once again @realDonaldTrump your lies are easy to expose!
Trump and Jr getting booed at Madison Square Garden tonight. pic.twitter.com/UNVmr3EtZz— UrbanCowboy (@AsphaltRanch) November 3, 2019
Of course, President Trump couldn’t help but comment on the controversy with the most Trump response possible:
Fake News! https://t.co/pL9gMFvZEn
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 3, 2019
What do you think, Maniacs? Because apparently objective reality no longer exists and what’s true will be decided by how the appearance ends up being perceived on Monday morning once everyone’s been fed a boo or cheer heavy clip along with a nice spoonful of political bias.