Bryce Mitchell is stepping back into the UFC octagon this weekend.
However, it`s not his fighting abilities but his controversial political and scientific views that are drawing attention before his UFC 314 match against Jean Silva.
The featherweight fighter is competing for the first time since sparking outrage for praising Adolf Hitler in an anti-Semitic rant on his podcast.
Mitchell stated that his “own research” led him away from “public education indoctrination” and convinced him that Hitler was a “good guy”.
The 30-year-old even denied the Holocaust.
Mitchell`s remarks were widely condemned in the MMA community, with UFC president Dana White calling them “dumb” and “ignorant”.
Despite a vague apology where he denied being a Nazi sympathizer, Mitchell later insisted, “Everyone’s entitled to their own opinions.”
“There should be no censorship. If someone thinks I’m a total dumbass, go ahead and say it.”
“If you disagree with my views on history and politics, challenge me. But don’t censor me.”
“No one controls me or what I say, and my historical research is my own business.”
“And nobody dictates my thoughts, opinions, how I raise my son, or what`s taught in my home.”
“In my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Mitchell`s embrace of Nazi conspiracy theories was not entirely unexpected.
Over the years, he has increasingly delved into various conspiracy theories.
It began with his seemingly harmless belief that the Earth is flat and that NASA, which he considers a “demonic” entity, fabricated the moon landing.
Mitchell reaffirmed his flat Earth stance as recently as February, arguing that if you “take a helicopter, hover it 20,000 feet for 24 hours, and come back down in the same spot,” it proves his point.
“I think no one will disagree once I explain it,” Mitchell said in an Instagram video. “Keep doing your own research.”
“Because there`s no proof the Earth rotates. That`s a lie from the devil.”
Many fight fans believed Mitchell reached peak conspiracy theorist territory in June 2022 when he suggested the US government was involved in the tragic Uvalde shooting, which killed 19 children.
“They`re letting some of them happen,” he claimed. “And also, like the Las Vegas shooting – I believe that was government collusion.”
“The Las Vegas shooting was too suspicious. Too many things didn`t add up.”
It`s obvious that American government officials are not conspiring to cause tragic shootings.
However, common sense seems to elude Mitchell.
This is, after all, the same man who nearly drilled his testicles off with a power drill.
In 2018, he posted on Instagram: “So I was going to train today but I ripped my nutsack in half. I`m about to get stitched up.”
“I was holding a board over my head with a drill in my pants. I was sizing up the board and the drill went off and tangled my nuts up in it.”
“I dropped the board and reversed the drill and untangled my nutsack but they were ripped in half. I`m serious lol.”
“I obviously can`t post a picture, but when my nuts are sealed back up I`m going to come and train again. I think a high kick would rip them haha.”
It`s possible Mitchell, like many conspiracy theorists, spends excessive late-night hours online searching for “truth-revealing” research.
Recently, his sleepless nights may also be due to his upcoming fight with Jean Silva.
“Legions of demons are attacking me every time I sleep,” Mitchell claimed on Instagram last month. “And I haven`t had a peaceful night`s sleep since that day.”
“These demons surround me, trying to fight me and provoke me to anger. Then the dream changes.”
“And they`ll send beautiful women, trying to tempt me to lust, to cheat on my wife.”
“Satan’s using my two weaknesses to expose the evil in my own heart: anger and lust.”
However, demonic visits should be the least of Mitchell`s immediate concerns.
Avoiding a knockout from Silva`s powerful punches this weekend should be his priority.
Beyond that, his main challenge should be escaping the consuming world of conspiracy theories.
