President Donald Trump left UFC star Kayla Harrison visibly shocked when he greeted her victory celebration with a kiss on the cheek following her championship win at UFC 316. The intimate gesture came after Harrison exited the octagon to interact with the president, who was sitting cage-side.
According to a Daily Mail report, Harrison had just defeated Julianna Pena to claim her first UFC world title when she approached Trump, who was attending the event with his daughter, Ivanka Trump, and other family members.
The surprisingly personal interaction didn't stop at a kiss. Trump pulled the 34-year-old fighter in for a hug and placed his left hand on her exposed stomach during a photo opportunity. Harrison later draped her new championship belt over the president's shoulder as the pair pointed at each other to elicit cheers from the New Jersey crowd.
Harrison brings an impressive athletic pedigree to her MMA career. The two-time Olympic gold medalist represented the United States in judo, winning top honors in both the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games before transitioning to mixed martial arts.
Her fighting career has been nothing short of remarkable. With 19 victories in 20 professional MMA bouts, Harrison has quickly established herself as a dominant force. Despite only making her UFC debut in April 2024, she has maintained an undefeated record within the promotion and rapidly climbed the rankings.
Saturday's championship victory over Julianna Pena at UFC 316 represented a significant milestone for Harrison. The submission win marked her third fight with the UFC and earned her first world title with the promotion, cementing her status as one of the organization's premier athletes.
The president's attendance at UFC 316 represents the continuation of his close relationship with the mixed martial arts promotion. Trump was greeted with applause from fans upon his arrival at the New Jersey venue.
Before taking his seat near the cage, Trump stopped to shake hands with podcasters and former Tennessee Titans teammates Will Compton and Taylor Lewan. The presidential entourage included Trump's son Eric, son-in-law Jared Kushner, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with whom Trump shared a fist bump for nearby cameras.
Trump's previous UFC appearance came in April when he attended an event in Miami alongside billionaire Elon Musk. However, their relationship has reportedly deteriorated since then, with Trump recently warning that Musk would face "very serious consequences" if he began supporting Democratic candidates after a disagreement over Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill."
Ivanka Trump made a striking appearance at the event, wearing a long white dress as she joined her father for the evening of UFC action. The president's daughter was part of a high-profile group watching the fights from premium seats.
The presidential family members weren't the only notable figures in attendance. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was spotted alongside Trump, with cameras capturing the two sharing a fist bump during the event. Other family members, including Eric Trump and Jared Kushner, rounded out the president's entourage.
UFC fans and fighters alike showed enthusiasm for Trump's presence. Kevin Holland, who won his welterweight bout against Vicente Luque by submission, celebrated his victory by giving the president a high five, demonstrating the warm reception Trump typically receives at UFC events.
President Donald Trump's appearance at UFC 316 highlighted his ongoing relationship with the mixed martial arts promotion. The 78-year-old commander-in-chief was treated to an impressive performance by Harrison, who defeated Julianna Pena to claim her first UFC championship.
The victory celebration took an unexpected turn when Harrison approached Trump after exiting the octagon. Rather than receiving a standard handshake, the fighter was pulled in for a hug and a kiss on the cheek, creating a moment that left Harrison visibly surprised.
Their interaction continued with a photo opportunity that saw Trump placing his arm around Harrison and his hand on her stomach, followed by Harrison draping her newly won championship belt over the president's shoulder as they acknowledged the cheering crowd together.
