Highly ranked fighter Brandon Royval came out swinging against the UFC event scheduled for the White House next year. (Watch the video below.)
President Donald Trump said in October the matches would take place on the White House lawn June 14 ― also his 80th birthday.
But if Royval, the UFC’s No. 3 flyweight contender, who has a record of 17-8-0, were to get an invite, perhaps the White House shouldn’t expect an affirmative reply. Royval may not be endearing himself to Trump pal and UFC boss Dana White, either.
“I don’t give a shit about fighting at the fucking White House,” Royval said on the “In the Arena MMA” podcast posted Monday. “I want to fight in front of big crowds, bro. It’s like, how big can the White House even have of a stadium? Is that shit outside too?
“I don’t give a fuck about any of our political figures right now, and it’s like, to fight in front of them seems like some fucking ‘Hunger Games’ type of fucking shit,” he continued. “I don’t give a fuck to fight in front of a bunch of fucking billionaires and rich people that could give a shit less about me. Probably throwing parlays. It’s like fuck you guys. I want to fight in front of people that are ‘Raw Dawg’ [his nickname] fans, or fans of MMA, that could relate to me. I’m not trying to fight in front of these fucking assholes. Fuck all these politicians.”
Fast-forward to 19:20 for Royval’s White House takedown.
Royval, who lost his last bout and is scheduled to fight in December, also remarked on his “straight Chicano” status.
“I really don’t want to go fight at the White House, if I’m being honest,” he continued. “And honestly, I’m too Mexican-looking. ICE is suspiciously arresting motherfuckers, and like, I don’t know. Who knows, bro? Next thing you know, I’m in Mexico and I don’t speak Spanish.”
In an email reacting to Royval’s comments, White House spokesperson Steven Cheung on Friday told HuffPost, “This will be one of the greatest and most historic sports events in history, and President Trump hosting it at the White House is a testament to his vision to celebrate America’s monumental 250th anniversary.”
