There’s nothing like a once-in-a-lifetime event. For the first time in American history, there will be a professional sporting event held on the grounds of the White House. What started as an idea in a random conversation between President Donald Trump and UFC CEO Dana White has taken shape in less than two years to become the most unique event in the promotion’s history. For Daniel Cormier, who will be on the call for the event on Paramount+, the opportunity to be part of it is personally fulfilling.
“We all had the same idea when we first heard about it. Impossible,” explained Cormier, who’s been a full-time member of the UFC’s top broadcasting team since 2020. “It happened very quickly where what once seemed impossible to this might actually happen.”
Cormier wasn’t alone in his initial feelings surrounding the concept. However, over the last year, momentum never seemed in doubt. After months of meetings between officials from TKO Holdings, the UFC, and the White House, the event was officially announced for June 14 on the South Lawn at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
A stacked card was later announced. The event features seven fights involving some of the promotion’s top fighters. An expected 4,300 people will watch from the White House lawn, while up to 100,000 others will gather at nearby Ellipse Park to view the action on large screens.
Cormier, who represented the United States in the Pan American Games and is a native of Lafayette, Louisiana, considers the event a celebration. Standing on the doorstep of the White House, with the country’s semi-quincentennial anniversary approaching and the eyes of the world watching, makes the moment even more meaningful.
“Honestly, it’s a dream,” said Cormier. “As a guy that’s represented the country in wrestling and the things that I’ve done, I’ve always wanted to go to the White House. Now, I have an opportunity to do it. Plus, to do it with fighting and representing the UFC. That’s crazy to me.”
A Milestone Moment
For the UFC, the event is just another milestone. In 2001, White’s friends bought the UFC for $2 million, gave him a 10% stake, and asked him to run the business. Through force of personality more than any traditional playbook, White turned the mixed martial arts league — now part of the TKO conglomerate — into a global phenomenon. Today, the UFC is worth north of $25 billion, with more than 600 fighters under contract, according to most estimates.
Cormier has seen that rise firsthand and views UFC Freedom 250 as the next step in that growth.
“Anyone that’s downplaying the significance of being on the south lawn of The White House is lying to you,” said Cormier. “Every UFC fan should be excited about the UFC doing this. MMA is doing well when the UFC is doing well. For the UFC to be on the cusp of such a significant event, that’s a victory for the entire sport.”
Cormier is no stranger to the Octagon. Following the 2008 Olympic Games, he fought for several MMA promotions before making his UFC debut in 2013. He went on to win the UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight championships in a career that culminated with induction into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2022.
In his approach to broadcasting each numbered UFC event, Cormier puts the focus on the fighters. He tells their stories and leans on personal experience and film study to guide viewers through the action. However, with the event being held at the White House amid the country’s current political climate, Cormier says his approach to the UFC Freedom 250 broadcast will remain the same.
“We’re going to call fights like we do every time. Our job hasn’t changed. Our job is to tell the story of the fighter. If I do anything different, that’s not doing right by the actual athletes competing,” explained Cormier. “The preparation will be the same and I’ll do the best job I can. This is only going to happen once, ever. That’s what is special about this. I get to call a fight that’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”
Preparing for a Global Audience
For the past few weeks, Cormier says he’s immersed himself in film study with the same approach he once used while training for a fight. He prefers to wait until an event draws closer before diving fully into preparation.
With a stacked card for UFC Freedom 250, Cormier is excited to see how the participants perform under the 92-foot-high structure known as “The Claw” on the South Lawn. However, when asked whether there was a particular fighter he wished had made the final card, he referenced perhaps his greatest rival missing the opportunity.
“I was hoping Jon “Bones” Jones would make the card,” said Cormier. “I believe in terms of American fighters, he’s the best one.”
UFC Freedom 250 will serve as the signature event of the UFC’s first year under a seven-year media rights agreement with Paramount Skydance. The landmark deal gives Paramount exclusive distribution rights to UFC’s full lineup of 13 marquee numbered events and 30 Fight Nights on Paramount+, with select numbered events also scheduled to simulcast on CBS.
The opportunity to broadcast on CBS hits home for Cormier. He understands the significance of the UFC appearing on traditional television and views it as a chance to expand its audience and reach unlike ever before.
“I grew up in Louisiana where cable television wasn’t always a thing. Now, to be on CBS, that was one of the free channels we got. To be talking about fighting on the free channel, that’s crazy to me,” said Cormier. “It can’t stop and can’t change, it has to continue growing. Paramount already is as big of a company as you can be associated with. It’s just getting bigger and bigger for the UFC.”
Remaining a Student
On Sunday night, Cormier will join UFC play-by-play voice Jon Anik and fellow commentator Joe Rogan on the call. The trio has become as synonymous with the UFC as any broadcast team in professional sports. From pay-per-view events to video games, Cormier remains a student of broadcasting as much as he once was a professional fighter.
“It’s more family than anything. I’ve been lucky to work so close with Jon and Joe, but especially with Jon Anik. He’s one of the best broadcasters across the globe in any sport,” explained Cormier. “I’ve been able to soak in all that knowledge with all these opportunities to sit right next to him… It’s been a masterclass, I am so lucky.”
Joe Rogan has also been instrumental in Cormier’s media career. The comedian, television host, podcaster, and UFC commentator has grown The Joe Rogan Experience into an influential force in pop culture.
As Cormier watched his teammate’s success over the years, Rogan shared his unique advice. Discussions that ultimately led Cormier to launch his own independent podcasting projects, including The Daniel Cormier Show.
“Joe told me to do what I want to do. Focus on doing the things that make you happy, then it doesn’t feel like you’re working,” said Cormier.
Leaning on that advice and receiving help along the way, The Daniel Cormier Show has become one of the sport’s most successful digital programs. That success led Cormier to partner with Colin Cowherd’s The Volume in 2022. The partnership provided him with additional resources, support, and opportunities for growth.
“The Volume has been a great network that helps me with sponsorship, production and everything I need,” said Cormier. “I never could have imagined that this is what my third act would have looked like. This has been a dream come true, and I’m doing everything that I want.”
Desire For More
Cormier’s approach to creating content is simple. He takes a commonsense approach and avoids issues that could spark division. He never holds back in a critique. Often finding himself coaching fighters from afar without even realizing it, based on the knowledge he’s gained throughout his career.
Over the past couple of years, Cormier has placed greater emphasis on long-form interviews. Focusing on the stories that shape the person rather than simply the participant. He believes a good interview requires a compelling guest, engaging questions, and an opportunity to learn. It’s an approach he’s developed by studying others in the industry and applying those lessons to refine his own style.
The hope for Cormier moving forward centers on continued growth. He says he has ambitious goals while keeping a close eye on an industry that continues to evolve.
“If you aren’t keeping your eyes on everything going on in the industry, you’re doing yourself a disservice,” explained Cormier. “Every athlete has a goal of being on a show every single day that doesn’t just go with MMA. That takes work and time. I think we’re on the right path to go in that direction, but ultimately it’s that. To be on one of the bigger shows in the world and be ever present.”
For most athletes, the dream ends when the fighting stops. For Daniel Cormier, it keeps evolving.
On Sunday night, he’ll stand on the South Lawn of the White House. Microphone in hand, helping tell the story of an event that once sounded too improbable to be real. It’s a moment that reflects not only how far the UFC has come from its fringe beginnings, but also how far Cormier has traveled since first representing the United States on a wrestling mat decades ago.
The Hall of Fame fighter has become one of the sport’s most trusted voices — a broadcaster, podcaster, and media personality with aspirations that extend well beyond mixed martial arts.
Yet even as he looks ahead to bigger platforms and broader audiences, Cormier remains grounded in the same philosophy that guided him through championship fights: prepare relentlessly, stay curious, and embrace the opportunity in front of you.
And on this night, the opportunity is unlike anything combat sports has ever seen. For a fighter who built a career on making history, it seems fitting that his next chapter includes calling it.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
