ADCC gold medalist and UFC veteran Robert Drysdale did not hold back when discussing the recent UFC event held on the White House lawn during a conversation on The Mat Minute podcast. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend and historian offered pointed criticism of what he views as a troubling shift in American values.
“Having the UFC on the White House lawn, I think it’s insulting to the memory of this country,” Drysdale stated plainly. “Personally, I think if any of the founding fathers were alive, they would have been losing their mind. They’re turning on their graves watching that.”
For Drysdale, the issue extends beyond mixed martial arts itself. Despite his love for the sport and acknowledgment of what it has done for his career, he believes the event represented something far more concerning about the current state of American priorities.
“I love the UFC. It’s done a lot for me. I love the sport, MMA,” he explained. “I just don’t think that has anything to do with 250 years of Declaration of Independence.”
The jiu-jitsu black belt suggested that the anniversary would have been better served by a different kind of reflection.
“What we should have done is thought those principles through and perhaps give it some thought if those principles apply to other nations as well as our own or only if ideas of freedom of independence or exclusive rights of the United States,” he said. “That would have been a far more interesting conversation than having a UFC on the lawn.”
Drysdale expressed dismay at what he perceives as a cultural shift away from serious civic engagement.
“When I saw that everyone’s excited about it, I was like, is this what we represent now? Have we gone full-on circus? It is. It’s a full-on circus. That’s what it is. We’re just basically saying our republic is one great circus. There’s nothing serious about it anymore.”
The criticism comes from someone who identifies as a proud American and a patriot with deep respect for the country’s founding principles.
Earlier in the conversation, Drysdale stated, “I admire the American founding fathers. I have great respect and admiration for the American republic and how it was founded and who founded it. I’m not saying they were perfect, but I think these are great men.”
On the question of whether the UFC is developing a predominantly right-leaning political platform, Drysdale acknowledged the business realities at play.
“Power leans on the right. It’s not to say that there’s no power on the left. But power leans where the money is,” he observed, before adding, “The more you have it, the more you want it. The same with power. It’s kind of like a [ ].”
He noted that climbing the political ladder comes with its own compromises.
“The further up you go on that ladder, the less good intentions you’ll see, the less honesty you’ll see, the less principles you’ll see. And I don’t think the UFC is an exception of that.”