The MMA sphere and beyond were left stunned after the attempt on former President Donald Trump’s life that occurred during his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13. The former President, who is campaigning for another term, faced an assassination attempt in the midst of addressing his supporters. Trump had just taken the stage to deliver his speech when gunshots suddenly pierced the air. The crowd watched in horror as Trump appeared to be struck and fell to the ground. In a swift response, Secret Service agents rushed to his side, forming a protective shield around him.

Despite the chaos, Trump managed to get back on his feet, though visibly injured, with blood trickling from the top of his ear. In a defiant gesture, he raised his fist and urged the crowd to “fight.” Following the incident, Anthony Guglielmi, the chief of communications for the U.S. Secret Service, issued a statement assuring the public that protective measures were in place and that Trump was safe.

Now in a recent statement shared on Instagram by Donald Trump Jr., the former president has indicated that he is continuing his campaign as scheduled despite the close call at the Pennsylvania rally, “Based on yesterday’s terrible events, I was going to delay my trip to Wisconsin, and The Republican National Convention, by two days, but have just decided that I cannot allow a “shooter”, or potential assassin, to force change to scheduling, or anything else. Therefore, I will be leaving for Milwaukee, as scheduled, at 3:30 P.M. Today. Thank you! DJT”

Trump’s resilience and his immediate call to action have resonated deeply with his supporters, which also include some prominent names in the MMA world. UFC CEO Dana White has previously stated in interviews how in the early days of UFC, the promotion faced trouble in setting up shows and securing venues due to the negative stigma surrounding ‘cage fighting’. It was here when Trump stepped up by providing’ his support through his ‘Trump Taj Mahal’ venue in Atlantic City and showing up to the fights to boost visibility.  As such, many UFC fighters took social media alongside the fans to showcase their support for the former president and here’s a look at what the community had to say.

Fans and MMA fighters rally behind Donald Trump as UFC boss Dana White dubs him “AMERICAN BAD A**”

Henry Cejudo, the former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion took to the comments to share his approval of Donald Trump’s decision to not back away from his rally. Trump, in a 2020 event had lauded Cejudo by proclaiming, “Henry, please stand. You won the championship twice, right, Henry? He won it twice. He’s, uhhh, don’t mess with him, don’t mess with him. His brother Alonzo is here as well Alonzo Cruz, thank you very much.”

henry_cejudo: 👏👏👏👏

Another notable name in the comments was Cody Garbrandt, a former UFC  bantamweight champion who showed his respect for Trump’s resolve and leadership.

cody_nolove: A true leader 👏👏

Tito Ortiz, former UFC light-heavyweight champion who held office as the Mayor of Huntington Beach, was also one of the names from the MMA world who came out in support of the former president. Ortiz’s comments also included a fist-raised emoji, the same gesture made by Trump as he was being moved off stage, which has now become an iconic image online.

titoortizig: ✊🏼🇺🇸🙏🏼

UFC Hall of Famer and former 2-time UFC welterweight champion, Matt Hughes, echoed Garbrandt’s sentiments as he also acknowledged Trump’s refusal to back down from his campaign as an example of his leadership qualities and dedication to his campaign.

matthughes9x: A true leader!! 👏👏👏

Other fans also joined in to add their support to a chorus of respect for Trump’s unwavering stance even after the attempt on his life.

Thug life! This is my leader

Tristan Tate, brother of controversial social media star, Andrew Tate, took to social media to implore UFC CEO Dana White to hand over the ‘BMF’ belt to the former President. The UFC boss had also released a statement on social media after the incident where he stated, “He is the toughest, most resilient, AMERICAN BAD A** on this planet.”

@TateTheTalisman: “Okay @danawhite it’s time to give @realDonaldTrump the BMF belt.”

In conclusion, Donald Trump’s decision to return to the campaign trail has solidified his image as a relentless and fearless leader for many of his supporters, inside and outside the MMA sphere. With the election approaching, the impact of this incident on Trump’s political journey remains to be seen. However, the outpouring of support from the UFC world highlights his massive impact and integral role in the rise of the promotion.  What are your thoughts on Donald Trump’s decision to continue his campaign in light of the attempt on his life? Let us know in the comments below!