UFC bans all flags during fighter walk outs
First it was the sponsors, then it was the uniforms, now it’s the flags. Nobody may be ‘about free speech’ more than the UFC, but that mantra stops hard the moment fighters enter the Octagon.
The UFC has ordered all fighters to walk out and compete without their national flag, with UFC president Dana White warning that fighters, fans, and media should “already know why” the flag ban has been put in place.
As one of the last obvious forms of individual expression fighters kept following the UFC uniform deal and insistence against creative walkouts, an explanation for the removal of flags seems like a statement worth making. But apparently Dana White feels the issue speaks for itself.
“You guys know why,” White told reporters when asked about the decision at the UFC 274 post-fight presser. “Let’s not even play that f—king game.”
Once again, the rhetoric from White is nothing but empty, political talk. While most speculate that the flag ban comes in lieu of the Russian war with Ukraine, the UFC has never made any comment or official statement over the conflict.
Instead, the UFC has opted to ban ALL flags and take non-committal stance on the Russian invasion - opting to pander to their Russian fan base and financial bottom line rather than take a stance on a potentially controversial issue for the company.
To be clear, with this overall flag ban, an American born and bred company, based in the United States, supported and grown in the United States, has banned American fighters from representing their county in competition.
It is a cowardly and unpatriotic move from Dana and the UFC.
If it’s all just about the war, will the UFC be bringing back flags once a cease-fire is in place? Or will a seemingly temporary measure become permanent? If the UFC is all set to take a stand on an issue, it’d be nice to find out exactly what the stand they’re taking is.
In the meantime, UFC events will get a little less colorful, and a little less individualistic, but that’s nothing new.