Advertisement

Bob Arum: 'Fans of the UFC are Donald Trump supporters'

Boxing promoter Bob Arum has been on his best behavior with the world of mixed martial arts ever since he suggested the sport was filled with “skinheads” who are “rolling around like homosexuals” back in 2009. He’s since left the sport alone as he’s been focused on his own affairs in the boxing world.

Founder and Top Rank CEO Bob Arum. (Getty Images)
Founder and Top Rank CEO Bob Arum. (Getty Images)

But while in Las Vegas promoting the Saturday showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley, the old Bob was back at it again. When asked about the UFC and how mixed martial arts has gained traction in the mainstream, Arum decided to take aim at the UFC and fold the conversation into one that also takes shots at Donald Trump.

"Well the UFC, they've done a great job promoting, but one thing I've said, and I'll say again, I'll say it straight out — the fans of the UFC are Donald Trump supporters,” the Top Rank CEO said.

It’s of no coincidence that Arum is calling the undercard of Pacquiao-Bradley that features mostly Hispanic fighters "No Trump" as a shot against the GOP frontrunner’s views on immigration.

“The fans of boxing support Hillary [Clinton], Bernie [Sanders], and maybe John Kasich, so there's a difference,” Arum said.

But Arum wasn’t finished despite the surrounding media suggesting that both sports have fans with diverse backgrounds. He was determined to get his point across.

"The preponderance of UFC fans are Trump supporters — white males who are desperately afraid that this country in 20 years will be a non-white majority country,” Arum said. “And that's why they're reacting, and that's why they're supporting an imbecile like Trump. And maybe that's why they like UFC."

Obviously, there are no polls available to gauge whether there is any validity in what Arum is suggesting. But we’re going to go out on a limb and say that his blanket statement against the UFC is unfounded and pretty ridiculous.