UFC athletes Mackenzie Dern and Brian Ortega’s Golden Globes second backfired on-line. UFC strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern and featherweight contestant Brian Ortega made an surprising look on the 83rd Golden Globe Awards on January 11, 2026, however their transient look on stage sparked confusion and backlash from viewers who questioned the inclusion of blended martial arts fighters at Hollywood’s prestigious awards ceremony.
Fan slams ‘random’ UFC cameo at Golden Globes: ‘That was bizarre’
The cameo occurred mid-way via the printed, when announcer Mark Malkin launched his nook with a scripted line about needing “further safety from the UFC” for the subsequent presenter. Dern and Ortega then took the stage to onerous rock guitar music and flashing spotlights, posed for a second heart stage, and exited with out saying a phrase. The overall efficiency time was roughly 30 seconds.
The second rapidly drew criticism on social media, with many viewers expressing bewilderment on the random insertion. One viewer wrote to X: “Mackenzie Dern and Brian Ortega walked out of the Golden Globes for no purpose. That was bizarre.” One other posted: “So randomly pressured right into a #ufc cameo. Company synergy,” and one other stated: “Ufc folks appeared as confused as I used to be as to why they had been there.”
Dissatisfaction grew amongst viewers who felt that this phase was losing precious air time throughout the ceremony, which rushed via different displays. “The Globes took the time to point out two UFC fighters strolling silently to the sting of the stage after which coming again like fifth grade ladies of their new back-to-school outfits, however one of the best rating was introduced throughout a industrial break??!?,” one viewer wrote. Others identified that the substantive awards had been diverted into industrial time to accommodate promotional segments like UFC appearances.
The cameo served as a promotion for Paramount’s just lately introduced seven-year, $7.7 billion contract with the UFC, which begins January 1, 2026. The deal makes Paramount the unique residence of all UFC occasions within the U.S., making all numbered occasions and 30 combat nights out there on Paramount+ at no further cost, eliminating the normal pay-per-view mannequin. CBS, a subsidiary of Paramount, broadcast the Golden Globe Awards ceremony.
Dern, who received the UFC Strawweight Championship by defeating Vilna Jandilova at UFC 321 in October 2025, appeared on the pink carpet carrying a silver and blue sequined robe. Ortega, at present ranked No. 9 within the featherweight division, wore a tailor-made swimsuit. The 2 fighters additionally appeared in a number of Paramount+ commercials throughout the broadcast.
This phase adopted the acceptance speech for Finest Non-English Language Movie for “The Secret Agent,” and preceded acceptance speeches by Hudson Williams and Conor Storey for Finest Supporting Feminine Actor in Tv for “The Secret Agent.” The “Heated Rivals” actors, who play rival hockey gamers on the HBO Max sequence, had been ostensibly the rationale for the “protected” presence of the UFC fighters, however no interplay between the teams occurred.
Paramount has launched a complete advertising and marketing marketing campaign prematurely of the primary occasion beneath the brand new deal, UFC 324, scheduled for January 24, 2026 in Las Vegas. The Golden Globes look was a part of its promotional efforts, however critics described it as a tone-deaf company transfer that disrupted the movement of the awards present.
Regardless of the net criticism, the UFC’s official social media accounts enthusiastically highlighted the looks, posting, “Octagon Hollywood’s @MackenzieDern and @BrianTCity represented the UFC at tonight’s Golden Globe Awards!” “I am so excited to be a champion and to be representing Brian on the Golden Globes,” Dern instructed MTV earlier than the ceremony, including that the partnership will assist the UFC “attain so many individuals.”
