New U.S. president Donald Trump’s victory has caused division throughout the world, but in the MMA world support for the billionaire businessman has been resounding.
It began with Dana White in July, who made an impassioned speech declaring “I stand by Trump”, lavishing praise upon him and giving him a great character reference. Who knows how much influence figures like Dana White had upon the final outcome.
White cited Trump’s support of MMA in the early days of UFC, when the sport was widely denounced by many as barbaric and bloodthirsty.
Trump stood by White and consequently earned himself an important allay, not just in White, but throughout the sport of MMA. Fighters have publicly backed Trump and some surprisingly so.
Donald Cowboy Cerrone and Tim Kenndey posted a picture of them and Trump on Instagram with the caption:
“Make America great again.”
Chris Weidman, whose wife is Hispanic (the same people Donald Trump has alienated), said:
“I like Donald Trump, I listened to his speech. He’s a little over the top, but a lot of the stuff he says in on the money. I think he’s what the country needs.”
Miesha “Cupcake” Tate has alluded to hers and Trump’s common enemy, Ronda Rousey, whom Trump famously said following her devastating defeat to Holly Holm:
“Glad to see Ronda Rousey lost her Championship last night. Was soundly beaten. Not a nice person!”
Tate didn’t go as far as publicly support Trump, but she most certainly said that she didn’t wish for his Democrat opposition, Hilary Clinton, to win.
Other fighters who did publicly support Trump were Tito Ortiz, Royce Gracie, Andre Aelovski, Eddie Wineland, Nick Lentz and Mike King.
Whilst some of these names are not exactly A-list celebrities and completely unknown in the middle east, these are fighters with a fan-base, with a voice, and every little bit of support given to Trump from the world of MMA may have been significant in a very tight battle for presidency of America.
On the other side of the coin, not one fighter stood up for Trump’s opposition, Hilary Clinton.
