MIAMI — The highlight of UFC 327 on Saturday night was not centered on the athletes but rather on former President Donald Trump.
Trump arrived at the Kaseya Center shortly after 9 p.m. to witness the light heavyweight bout between Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg. He was joined by Dana White, the UFC president, along with various members of the Trump family.
As a Kid Rock song played in the background, Trump made his way to his seat, where he was greeted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Also present was Sergio Gor, the U.S. ambassador to India.
During his entrance, Trump engaged with spectators on the floor and took a moment to greet Joe Rogan, the popular podcaster and UFC color commentator.
Throughout the evening, Trump appeared cheerful and frequently posed for cameras.
A sizable crowd was seen capturing footage of the presidential motorcade upon its arrival.
Following former champion Alex Pereira’s decision to vacate his title in order to pursue the interim heavyweight championship at UFC Freedom 250, Ulberg (14-1-0) was given the opportunity to face Prochazka (32-5-1) in the evening’s main event.
In the co-main event, Azamat Murzakanov (17-0-0) secured victory with a right roundhouse kick that knocked down Paulo Costa (15-5-0), concluding the match at 1:23 into the third round.
After his win, Murzakanov approached the Octagon’s apron to shake hands with Trump, who praised his performance. During his post-fight discussion with Rogan, Murzakanov acknowledged Trump.
In what was considered the fight of the night, Josh Hokit (9-0-0) and Curtis Blaydes (19-6-0) engaged in an intense slugfest, with Trump visibly enthusiastic as fans chanted, “This is awesome!” The bout culminated in a unanimous decision victory for Hokit (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
In a light heavyweight match, Dominick Reyes (16-5-0) triumphed over Johnny Walker (22-10-0) via a split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
Featherweight veteran Cub Swanson (32-14-0) concluded his illustrious career with a stunning first-round TKO against Nate Landwehr (18-9-0). The 42-year-old Swanson overwhelmed Landwehr with a flurry of punches, prompting referee Herb Dean to intervene with just 54 seconds remaining in the opening round.
