Patel Suggests Bringing In UFC To Enhance FBI Agent Fitness: Report
Newly appointed FBI Director Kash Patel has sparked a wave of reaction within the bureau after unveiling his bold vision for reforming the nation’s premier law enforcement agency — a plan that surprisingly involves assistance from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Insiders familiar with Patel’s initiative say the proposal centers on forming a working relationship with the renowned mixed martial arts organization. The UFC’s CEO, Dana White, a longtime supporter of President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign, has been tied to the effort, according to a report from ABC News.
During a conference call on Wednesday with the heads of the FBI’s 55 field offices, Patel introduced the idea of forging an official partnership with the UFC. The goal would be to create specialized fitness programs to improve agents’ physical readiness, sources briefed on the conversation revealed.
This virtual briefing, a weekly tradition where special agents in charge connect with leadership, took on a different tone as it marked Patel’s first time leading the call since taking the oath as director just days prior, on Friday.
Word of Patel’s UFC proposal quickly made its way to current and retired FBI personnel across the country, where it received a mixed reception—some welcoming the unconventional approach.
“If they’re trying to up their physical fitness, the UFC is very specific in their fitness,” said ABC News contributor Rich Frankel, who previously led the FBI’s Newark, New Jersey, field office.
While Patel’s idea is still in its early stages, and the specifics remain unclear, the concept of enlisting the UFC to boost agent fitness has certainly generated buzz within the FBI community, as ABC News described. The network also highlighted that UFC is based in Las Vegas, the city where Patel now resides.
Frankel, who spent over 20 years with the FBI, acknowledged that tightening fitness requirements could be a positive step—suggesting that collaborating with the UFC might not be as far-fetched as it first sounds.
He also pointed out that various field offices have, on occasion, brought in martial arts trainers and fitness experts to work with agents in the past. However, Frankel tempered his support, saying, “I don’t want UFC to take over the gym.”
Meanwhile, an entirely separate controversy emerged as Attorney General Pam Bondi made a stunning disclosure: the FBI’s New York field office had been keeping vital Jeffrey Epstein documents hidden—an explosive revelation that quickly ignited social media on Thursday.
In a formal letter sent directly to Patel, Bondi demanded immediate action and launched an inquiry into how the bureau handled the Epstein case internally.
This demand follows previous reports alleging that the FBI might have secretly destroyed Epstein-related documents, fueling suspicions of official misconduct and efforts to suppress evidence. Bondi’s letter stressed that her office had only received a partial set of documents related to Epstein’s extensive criminal network—despite repeated assurances from the FBI that all materials had been provided.
“I repeatedly questioned whether this was the full set of documents responsive to my request and was repeatedly assured by the FBI that we had received the full set of documents,” Bondi wrote.
That assurance collapsed late Wednesday, when Bondi said a confidential source revealed that the New York Field Office held thousands of additional pages tied to the Epstein investigation and indictment.
“When you and I spoke yesterday, you were just as surprised as I was to learn this new information,” Bondi wrote to Patel.
She then issued a clear directive: “By 8:00 a.m. tomorrow, February 28, the FBI will deliver the full and complete Epstein files to my office, including all records, documents, audio and video recordings, and materials related to Jeffrey Epstein and his clients.”
Bondi further called for an immediate internal review into the FBI’s handling of previous document requests, and directed the agency to submit a comprehensive report within 14 days explaining the failure to disclose.
“I appreciate your immediate attention to this important matter. I know that we are both committed to transparency for the American people, and I look forward to continuing to work with you to serve our President and our country,” Bondi concluded.