UFC president and CEO Dana White criticised fighter Bryce Mitchell for making anti-Semitic and homophobic comments on a podcast during which the featherweight also praised Adolf Hitler and denied the Holocaust.
But, citing freedom of expression, White said the organisation would not take any disciplinary actions against Mitchell.
“I’ve heard a lot of dumb and ignorant (stuff) said over the years, but this is probably the worst,” White said in a statement released by the UFC.
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“First of all, when you talk about Hitler, he was responsible for the death of six million Jews and it was his intent to completely eliminate the Jewish people. And that’s a guy you would want to go fishing with?
“And think about this, when you look at World War II, it was the deadliest war in human history.
“In it’s entirety, you’re talking about a war that resulted in 15 million military deaths, and 45 million civilian deaths. That doesn’t include at least another 25 million soldiers that were wounded.”
Bryce Mitchell has been slammed for his comments. Zuffa LLC
White said the UFC let Mitchell know what he said was unacceptable.
“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,” White said.
“That’s the problem with the internet and social media. You provide a platform to a lot of dumb and ignorant people.
“We reached out to Bryce immediately when we read what he said, and let him know exactly how we felt about it. But what he said was beyond disgusting and he needs a real education on the facts surrounding Hitler and World War II.”
Speaking on the first episode of his podcast, Mitchell called Hitler a “good guy”.
“I honestly think that Hitler was a good guy based upon my own research, not my public education indoctrination,” the 30-year-old said.
Dana White. AP
“I really do think before Hitler got on meth, he was a guy I’d go fishing with. He fought for his country. He wanted to purify it by kicking the greedy Jews out that were destroying his country and turning them all into gays.
“They were gaying out the kids. They were queering out the women. They were queering out the dudes.”
When his co-host, Roli Delgado, said that it was “bad to put a whole race into camps”, Mitchell claimed the Holocaust “ain’t real.”
“That’s what your public education will tell you Roli, because you believe your public education because you haven’t done your own research.
‘When you realise there’s no possible way they could’ve burned and cremated six million bodies, you’re gonna realise the Holocaust ain’t real.”
Later in the podcast, Mitchell insisted he was not a Nazi.
“He (Hitler) ain’t perfect. I’m not a Nazi. I don’t love Nazi. I don’t want Nazis to win the war. I’m just saying they were in a bad spot when Hitler come to power.”
Mitchell’s last fight was at UFC 310 in December where he knocked out Kron Gracie. He has a 17-2 MMA record.
