Bryce Mitchell is set to compete in the octagon again this weekend.
However, before his UFC 314 fight against Jean Silva, the focus is more on Mitchell`s unconventional political and scientific views rather than his fighting abilities.
The featherweight fighter is competing for the first time since sparking outrage for praising Adolf Hitler, the Nazi leader, in an antisemitic rant on his podcast.
Mitchell claimed his “personal research” led him away from “public education indoctrination,” concluding that Hitler was a “good person.”
He even went as far as denying the Holocaust.
Mitchell`s remarks were widely condemned in the MMA community, with UFC president Dana White calling them “stupid” and “ignorant”.
Despite a hesitant apology where he denied being a Nazi sympathizer, Mitchell later insisted, “Everyone is entitled to their own opinions.”
He added, “There should be no censorship. If someone thinks I`m a complete idiot, they should say it.”
“If you disagree with my historical and political views, 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 wasn`t entirely unexpected.
Over the years, he has increasingly delved into various conspiracy theories.
It began with his seemingly harmless and absurd belief in a flat Earth and that NASA, which he considers a “demonic” entity, fabricated the moon landing.
Mitchell reaffirmed his flat Earth stance in February, suggesting that if you “take a helicopter, hover at 20,000 feet for 24 hours, you`ll land in the same spot.”
“I believe everyone will agree once I explain it,” Mitchell stated in an video. “Keep researching on your own.”
“Because there is no proof the Earth rotates. That`s a lie from the devil.”
Many fight fans thought Mitchell had reached peak conspiracy theorist status in June 2022 when he suggested the US government was involved in the tragic Uvalde school shooting, which killed 19 children.
“They are allowing some of these events to happen,” he claimed. “And also, like the shooting in Las Vegas – I believe that was government collusion.”
“The Las Vegas shooting was too suspicious. Too many things didn`t add up.”
It doesn`t take much common sense to realize that American government officials are not conspiring to enable tragic shootings.
However, common sense appears to be something Mitchell lacks.
After all, this is a man who once nearly drilled off his own testicles.
In 2018, he posted on Instagram: “I was going to train today, but I ripped my nutsack in half. Getting stitched up now.”
“I was holding a board above my head with a drill in my pants. I was measuring the board, and the drill activated, tangling my nuts in it.”
“I dropped the board and reversed the drill, untangling my nutsack, but it was ripped in half. Seriously lol.”
“Obviously, I can`t post a picture, but once my nuts are fixed, I`ll be back to training. I think a high kick might tear them again haha.”
It`s likely Mitchell, like many conspiracy theorists, spends countless late-night hours online conducting “research” to uncover truths.
But recently, his sleepless nights are probably due to his upcoming fight with Jean Silva.
“Legions of demons attack me every time I sleep,” Mitchell shared on Instagram last month. “And I haven`t had a peaceful night`s sleep since then.”
“These demons surround me, trying to fight me and provoke me to anger. Then the dream changes.”
“And they send beautiful women, trying to tempt me into lust, to cheat on my wife.”
“Satan is using my two weaknesses to reveal the evil in my own heart: anger and lust.”
However, nightly demonic visits should be the least of Mitchell`s immediate concerns.
His priority should be avoiding a quick defeat by Silva`s powerful strikes early on Sunday morning.
Following that, his main goal should be to escape the depths of the consuming world of conspiracy theories.
Elton Marrow 
Gideon Holt