On the stage of time, power-holding minorities discovered their need for instruments to guide the masses and release societal energy. Through the creation of such instruments, they aimed not only to reinforce their privileged positions but also to pacify collective tensions. Aware of this necessity, the privileged Roman minority transformed the institutions of Gladiators and the Arena into tools of governance to preserve their wealth and authority within the city.
Rome, as a civilization rooted in high-level cultural production and urban structure, experienced a continuous increase in its urban population. Within this urban civilization, class stratifications emerged. The privileged ruling class strived not only to maintain political power but also to secure economic dominance. In this context, managing, directing, and channeling the energy of the growing population became possible through the institutions of gladiators and the arena. Through the violence produced in the arenas, emotional releases such as excitement, pleasure, and fear were facilitated. This institution, which evolved into a form of public entertainment, generated stories and used narratives to give meaning to violence. With this controlled production of violence, the masses were kept in check within a framework centered on excitement and pleasure. Indeed, the institution of gladiators and the arena was deliberately coordinated by the Roman political and economic elite for these very purposes.
The civilizations built today are founded upon these earlier urban high cultures. As Eric Hobsbawm states, the twin revolutions that changed the world were carried out by Western civilization. Western civilization, which brought forth the French Revolution and the British Industrial Revolution, draws its roots from the urban high cultures that preceded it. When we examine the pillars of today’s Western civilization, we find knowledge, philosophical thought, and political and economic institutions originating from Sassanid, Roman, Greek, and Islamic civilizations. Western civilization seized and assimilated the cultural outputs of these earlier high-level civilizations and used them to construct the modern world we live in today. Whether this construction is fundamentally flawed or beneficial is a matter for another discussion. However, it would not be incorrect to say that the governing instruments of the past continue to exist today in transformed forms. Therefore, in the modern world built by Western civilization, it can be said that the institutions of gladiators and the arena still persist as tools for governing, manipulating, and channeling societal energy. At this point, it becomes essential to examine the UFC in the United States—the current global superpower. Today, the UFC exists as a modern-day reflection of the gladiatorial institution of ancient Rome.
The UFC, known as the Ultimate Fighting Championship, is a mixed martial arts organization. Fighters compete inside the octagonal cage, known as the Octagon, for either 3 or 5 rounds. Each round lasts approximately 5 minutes.
It is owned by a company called ENDEAVOR—a multinational entertainment, media, and sports corporation headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. has transformed into a powerful social management mechanism through its various organizations and institutions. Today, this political tool of governance has evolved to acquire a strong economic dimension. While the gladiatorial institution in ancient Rome served political purposes, the UFC has succeeded in combining both political and economic gains. To support this argument, we can refer to TKO’s 2024 report, which states: “In 2024, the UFC generated a total revenue of $1.406 billion USD.”
Additionally, former U.S. President Donald Trump’s close ties with the UFC can be seen as evidence of the organization being used as a tool of governance. In the video below, we see Donald Trump entering UFC 309 through the same path used by the fighters, receiving applause from the entire arena.
The current CEO of the UFC, Dana White, has collaborated with Donald Trump on a political level and publicly supported his candidacy during the election campaign.
Trump utilizes the UFC as a tool for public relations, advertising, and social control—much like the ruling elite minority of ancient Rome. In the photo below, American billionaire Elon Musk is seen applauding Trump, who is holding the UFC championship belt, along with the entire arena—serving as clear evidence of this phenomenon.
By establishing strong ties with champion fighters, Trump shapes public perception and promotes himself. At UFC 319, the dance performed by Jon Jones—widely regarded as the UFC’s GOAT (Greatest of All Time)—after his title fight stands as a clear manifestation of this Foucauldian tool of governance that has been constructed.
In the United States, the UFC is being utilized much like the gladiatorial institution of ancient Rome—as a tool of social control—with clear political and economic outcomes. To strengthen the overall argument within the context of this discussion, one example can highlight the growing significance of this institution as a governing mechanism:
“Donald Trump recently announced to the world that a UFC event will soon be held on the White House lawn, organized by none other than his close associate, Dana White.”
In conclusion, the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) has evolved far beyond being merely a combat sports organization; it now stands as a powerful “governance tool” within today’s global media and political arena. Skillfully blending the dynamics of sport, entertainment, politics, and identity, the UFC is strategically utilized by both states and corporations as a platform for public relations, cultural hegemony, and the shaping of national interests. In this context, the UFC not only showcases athletic performance but also functions as a medium that redefines social norms, influences international relations, and plays an active role in processes of power and integration. Therefore, the UFC represents a phenomenon that embodies the off-field strength of modern political strategies—worthy of examination as a multi-layered and influential instrument.
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