How do Dana White and the UFC feel about Bryce Mitchell going on a pro-Adolf Hitler diatribe on his podcast?
“We’re beyond disgusted,” White said Thursday at the Power Slap 11 post-match news conference.
Earlier in the day, Mitchell released the first episode of his “ArkanSanity Podcast” where, in response to Elon Musk’s recent Nazi-like salute at a Donald Trump rally, he lauded Hitler as “a good guy” while spouting off homophobic rhetoric and denying the Holocaust occurred.
While White usually shrugs off when his fighters share their bigoted views publicly, he opened Thursday’s news conference by addressing the Mitchell controversy head on.
“I’ve heard a lot of dumb, ignorant sh*t in my day, but this one’s probably the worst,” White said. “When you talk about Hitler, who’s responsible for the death of 6 million Jews, and he tried to completely eliminate a race of people. World War 2 was the deadliest war in history: 15 million military deaths, 45 million civilians and 25 soldiers were killed in World War 2. Second of all, Hitler is one of the most disgusting and evil human beings to ever walk the face of the earth, and anyone who even tries to take an opposing position is a moron. That’s the problem with the internet and social media. You provide a platform for a lot of dumb, ignorant people.”
While he didn’t specify who, White said the UFC reached out to Mitchell directly to let him know its position on his remarks. White said Mitchell didn’t apologize for his message but did say he was sorry for putting the UFC in a compromising position with his words.
“Out of all the dumb, ignorant sh*t I’ve heard in my life, this has to be the dumbest and most ignorant,” White said.
‘It’s free speech’
Dec 7, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, UNITED STATES; Bryce Mitchell (red gloves) reacts to defeating Kron Gracie (blues gloves) at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
So where does that leave Mitchell and his standing with the UFC? Apparently no different than it was before his pro-Hitler remarks as White made no indication that the promotion plans to discipline Mitchell.
“That’s what everyone wants to hear, about punishment, but it’s free speech,” White said. “I don’t have to love it, you don’t have to love it, you know.”
The UFC also doesn’t have to stand for it, but as has been the case in recent years with fighter transgressions, no action will be taken by the UFC and Mitchell will continue fighting in the octagon.
“Well, that’s the beautiful thing about this business: For all of you that hate Bryce Mitchell, you get to hopefully see him get his ass whooped on global television,” White said. “What do you want me to say about it? You know where I am with free speech. We’re disgusted by it. I think he’s literally one of the dumbest human beings. Let’s not forget this is a guy who took a drill through his nut sack then had to reverse it. That’s the level of stupid that we’re talking about here. …
“He’s stupid. He’s dumb. You can’t fix dumb people. You know what I mean? When you have somebody that’s really, really stupid, and that’s who we’re talking about here, what do you do? How do you talk sense to a dummy? You don’t.”
Mitchell, 30, is 2-2 in his past four fights after starting his career 15-0. He most recently defeated Kron Gracie by slam TKO this past December at UFC 310. That was Mitchell’s first fight in a year after he was the victim of a Knockout of the Year candidate against Josh Emmett at UFC 296 in December 2023.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Dana White: UFC ‘beyond disgusted’ by Bryce Mitchell’s pro-Hitler rant – but no punishment
