The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) appears to be moving towards awarding an exclusive contract to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for mixed martial arts training for its agents. This development follows a training seminar held in March 2026 at the FBI Special Agent Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
During the March seminar, roughly 300 federal agents and academy students received specialised hand-to-hand combat training from seven past and current UFC fighters, including former middleweight champion Chris Weidman. The two-day event also featured photo opportunities with the fighters and FBI Director Kash Patel.
In September, the FBI filed a Sole Source Justification form, a document that allows government contracts to be awarded without competitive bids. The bureau stated that the UFC was "uniquely qualified" to provide these services, citing the trainers' skills in striking, grappling, weapon defence, ground control, and conditioning.
The document indicates that the exclusive contract would be limited to one year. Any potential long-term contract would be subject to competitive bidding after "market research." The exact financial sum the FBI plans to pay the UFC has not been disclosed.