UFC fighter Bryce Mitchell has come under fire for making antisemitic, homophobic, and transphobic comments during the first episode of his podcast. Notably, Mitchell referred to Adolf Hitler as a "good guy" and claimed that the Holocaust "ain't real," drawing widespread condemnation. UFC President Dana White swiftly responded, labeling Mitchell's remarks as "beyond disgusting" and reached out to him immediately. Despite the backlash, the UFC has not taken further action against Mitchell at this time.
Mitchell, who has been competing in the UFC since 2018 and currently ranks 13th in the featherweight division, last fought in December. His statements have sparked outrage, not just within the sports community but also among organizations combating hate speech. Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League, expressed his shock at Mitchell's comments but confirmed that his organization has not pursued further action.
"I'm aghast at this podcast interview. There are simply no words." – Jonathan Greenblatt
Combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani, who is Jewish, was visibly upset by the situation and described it as a "new low" for mixed martial arts (MMA). Helwani's criticism highlights growing concerns about the sport's image amidst such controversies.
"Each and every day MMA finds a way to reach a new low. A new way of embarrassing itself and those who are fans of it." – Ariel Helwani
"Nothing will be done, and I don't even care if anything is done. Say what you want. It just continues to baffle me at how unbelievably stupid – not to mention bigoted – some of the people in the sport or associated with the sport can be." – Ariel Helwani
Dana White made his stance clear on the issue, emphasizing the severity of Mitchell's comments.
"We reached out to Bryce immediately when we read what he said, and let him know exactly how we felt about it." – Dana White
"Hitler is one of the most disgusting and evil human beings to ever walk the earth, and anyone that even tries to take an opposing position is a moron." – Dana White
Mitchell's comments were made on a public platform, making them widely accessible and subject to scrutiny. The historical context of Hitler's regime, which led Germany into World War Two and orchestrated the Holocaust genocide resulting in the deaths of six million Jews, underscores the gravity of Mitchell's statements.
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