Video: President Donald Trump sends message of support at the start of UFC 249 broadcast

Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

President Donald Trump addressed the UFC’s return to action in a special video that opened the UFC 249 broadcast on ESPN on Saturday night.

Trump congratulates Dana White and the UFC at the start of the #UFC249 broadcast pic.twitter.com/KHDcEuWjbn

— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) May 10, 2020

As the first major sport to return to action following the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Trump offered words of support to UFC president Dana White and the promotion for the show taking place from Jacksonville, Fla.

“I want to congratulate Dana White and the UFC, they’re going to have a big match. We love it,” Trump said during his address. “We think it’s important. Get the sports leagues back. Let’s play.”

As many states begin to re-open for the first time since stay-at-home orders were issued, Trump has championed sports getting restarted as a sign that the U.S. is returning to some sense of normalcy.

The UFC will hold three consecutive shows over the next week with two more cards planned for May 13 and May 16 from Jacksonville. Other sports leagues have started to put together plans in order to restart their own seasons with the UFC already back in business.

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