NEWARK, N.J. – President Donald Trump received a loud standing ovation just before the UFC pay-per-view card began at the Prudential Center on Saturday night. He set aside his ongoing public rivalry with tech mogul Elon Musk to focus on the intense contests taking place inside the cage.

Trump was joined by UFC President Dana White, and both made their way to their seats near the cage for UFC 316, entering to the tune of Kid Rock’s “American Bad Ass.” A similar scene unfolded last November at the UFC event at Madison Square Garden, where Trump, White, and Musk were all present.

As Trump approached the cage, he greeted fans and supporters, including legendary retired boxer Mike Tyson. Accompanying Trump were his daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, alongside son Eric Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Trump shook hands with the UFC broadcast team that included Joe Rogan. Rogan hosted Trump on his podcast for hours in the final stages of the campaign last year.

UFC fans went wild for Trump and held mobile devices in their outstretched arms to snap pictures of him. Trump is a longtime UFC enthusiast and frequent attendee of major fights.

Trump arrived in time for the start of a card set to include two championship fights. Julianna Peña and Merab Dvalishvili were scheduled to each defend their 135-pound championships.

UFC fighter Kevin Holland choked out Vicente Luque to win the first fight with Trump in the building. He scaled the cage and shook hands with Trump. He briefly chatted with Trump and White before he returned for his post-fight interview.

Trump has been close to White for more than two decades.

White hosted a 2001 UFC battle at Trump Taj Mahal, a former casino-hotel in Atlantic City, and Trump has frequently attended UFC matches since — including during his 2024 campaign. Trump has turned up at fights recently with famous entourages, including White, musician Kid Rock and former Fox News Channel host Tucker Carlson.

Trump and White’s alliance has yielded dividends for both parties. White stumped for Trump at Republican conventions while men who soak up fight nights threw their support behind Trump in the elections.

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AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports