Dana White says the alleged drone attack disrupted by the FBI wasn’t the only threat to UFC Freedom 250, while insisting D.C. was the safest place to be Sunday night. He also praised the FBI after five people were arrested, including 19-year-old Tycen Proper.
Dana White says UFC Freedom 250 wasn’t just facing one shadowy threat. In his telling, there were “more than that [plot]” — more than the alleged drone attack that was reportedly stopped with help from the FBI.
White spoke during a Tuesday conversation with Babcock, adding, “I was in the loop on all of the stuff that was happening in real time,” as the historic event played out on Sunday night.
The UFC boss was reacting to what the FBI announced earlier on Tuesday: authorities arrested five people, including 19-year-old Tycen Proper, over an alleged terror plot targeting the White House. Prosecutors described a plan that would have used drones packed with explosives and a sniper rifle.
No one was hurt, and Freedom 250 went on without a hitch. White framed that as the kind of danger that comes with major moments — the kind of threats that need to be met quickly and decisively when the stakes are high.
“These are the kind of events that bring the nuts out, you know what I mean? This is normal stuff,” White said.
He then pivoted to gratitude, thanking authorities for what he described as top-tier work. “The FBI is so good. These guys are so good at what they do. The up-to-date things that I had during the week of the fight, these guys are incredible.”
When it came to safety, White was blunt about where Sunday night felt safest. “There was no safer place in America to be Sunday night than in D.C.”
Later in the same sweep of questions. White also answered fans’ bigger UFC-focused curiosities tied to Freedom 250. including where the event ranks among his career achievements. how many people watched on Paramount+. and how Ilia Topuria is feeling after taking what White described as the worst beating of his life at the hands of Justin Gaethje. White also weighed in on whether the champion should retire. talked about “epic walkouts. ” and said what White is now thinking about next—pointing to the monumental venues where he’s already staged major moments. including 1600 Penn. and the Sphere.
For UFC fans, the headline is clear: even with alleged threats looming in real time, the event went on — and White credits law enforcement for keeping it that way.
Dana White UFC Freedom 250 FBI Tycen Proper drone attack White House plot Paramount+ Ilia Topuria Justin Gaethje UFC walkouts Babcock
So it was a drone AND a sniper? Sounds like DC is basically a war zone.
“No safer place in America”?? I mean okay Dana lol but how do we know it would’ve even been stopped if the FBI wasn’t there. UFC fans just lucky.
They arrested 5 people including that 19 year old, but I feel like this is gonna turn into a conspiracy thing anyway. Like drones don’t just happen, somebody had to get it through. Also they say “no one was hurt” but what about the stress???
I don’t even care about the threats part, I just wanna know how many people watched on Paramount+. Dana always says stuff like “in the loop” but he’s probably mixing up what happened. Also “UFC Freedom 250” sounds like it’s in the wrong city name wise??