Miami — According to UFC CEO and President Dana White, featherweight Bryce Mitchell is “one of the dumbest human beings,” though he didn’t add any qualifiers when he made that comment back in January.
In America? The world? Throughout history? At the time, Mitchell had called Hitler – yes, that Hitler – a good guy to go fishing with. You know, before he got on meth. “I honestly think that Hitler was a good guy, based upon my own research, not my public education and indoctrination,” Mitchell stated on his own podcast, AskanSanity, apparently admiring the fact that the Nazi party leader and German dictator (not to mention mass murderer) “wanted a pure nation.”
Now, months later, Mitchell is back in the news, with his UFC 314 fight against Jean Silva fast approaching. And once again, Mitchell has proven himself, if not an outright dunce, incredibly slow on media literacy.
Days before attending Wednesday’s UFC 314 media day, Mitchell posted a video clip to his verified Instagram account, stating that gay couples should not have kids, were not fit to be parents, and that he’d be happy to say it to their face. It takes a special kind of stupid to make comments like that when you’re already under fire for fangirling over Adolf freakin’ Hitler, but ladies and gentleman, no one doubles down like Bryce Mitchell.
At media day, Mitchell was asked what he’d learned from the past weeks and months of controversy, that he undeniably brought upon himself. If he was prepared to deal with the blowback from fans, who heckled and jeered him at a press conference last month, and likely will again tomorrow. As a disclaimer, yes, this very media outlet asked him those questions, because frankly, Mitchell’s beliefs have become a huge part of the narrative in his fight with Jean Silva. Silva has pounced on them, and the general public, most of them at least, have been quite vocal in hoping to see Mitchell knocked out.
Mitchell gave the “also ran” speech on that front, the MMA equivalent to losing at the Oscars. Instead of “it was an honour just to be nominated,” we got “these people are coming out, they’re making noise and regardless if they love me or hate me, they’re in the seats watching, so I appreciate that.”
Fair enough. Mitchell looked anything but appreciative last time out, but he may be better prepared this Thursday. But whether Mitchell has learned anything from his 2025 firestorm of controversy was the real question.
“I’ve learned to be totally fearless. No man controls me or controls what I say, and my research on history is up to me,” Mitchell proclaimed. “And no man determines what my thoughts or my opinions are or how I raise my son and what is taught in my household. And for me and my household, we will serve the lord.”
Of course, if the subject at hand was anything other than Adolf Hitler, that would be a fair statement. The problem becomes this: in fighting, you win or you learn. Bryce Mitchell did not win with his podcast comments back in January, but despite what is increasingly seeming like a half-hearted apology, it appears he’s learned nothing. He’s dug in on his beliefs like an Alabama tick (or more accurately, an Arkansas tick). Don’t dare question his knowledge of history.
When asked about his comments about gay parents — keeping in mind, Amanda and Nina Nunes and Raquel and Tecia Pennington have both shared the roster with Mitchell — he didn’t answer. Well, not directly. Instead, he quoted scripture.
Sorry, Bryce. As a lapsed Catholic who was never much one for bible study, you lost me. What is obvious is that despite claiming he has no hate in his heart, Mitchell is, if not hateful, extremely angry about being put on the spot over his opinions.
While clearly irate at the line of questioning, Mitchell had opened Wednesday’s media day session (literally opened it, with his appearance coming thirty minutes before the deadline for media to check in, almost as if the UFC was hoping some might skip the entire sorry affair) welcoming criticism. Especially from his boss.
“Dana, he’s entitled to all of his opinions. I’m glad that he said everything that he did. I have nothing bad to say about Dana, I love him so much with all my heart. I just can’t say enough good about it. And if everybody thinks that I’m dumb, that’s fine. Say it. Let it be known. Because it’s your right to think that I’m dumb,” stated Mitchell. “And say why. State why you think I’m dumb.”
Calling White a “real man,” who was “not afraid to state his opinions,” Mitchell added that “everybody’s entitled to their own opinions. There should be no censorship. If somebody thinks I’m a total dumbass then come on, call me out for it. If you don’t agree with my views on history and politics, call me out on it. But don’t censor me. Don’t don’t tell me ‘oh you can’t say this or that’ when I’m not producing speech that’s violent, that’s hateful. I’m just simply talking about how I view history, and I know what I know. I love the world, I never told anybody that I hated them, because that’s against Jesus. That’s against what I believe in.”
Maybe someone should have asked Bryce if he believes Jesus would have called Adolf Hitler a good guy to go fishing with.
Watch the full UFC 314 media day appearance with Bryce Mitchell above.
