At the press conference ahead of his bantamweight bout against Santiago Luna, Bryce Mitchell was asked about Sean Strickland’s reported ban from the UFC White House event, and he didn’t hesitate in responding.
When a reporter raised the issue of Strickland being barred from the White House over comments about Israel, Mitchell immediately pushed back on the premise.
“I’m not surprised at all,” he said. “I mean it, you know, freedom of speech is what really makes this country great.”
He then expanded on his point, arguing that criticism should not be off-limits when it comes to foreign nations.
“And when you can’t criticize a foreign nation, a foreign nation, come on, man,” Mitchell said. “We ought to be able to criticize our own nation, let alone a foreign nation. In fact, that’s the only nation you’re not allowed to criticize, you know.”
He suggested major consequences if such restrictions continue, framing it in dramatic terms.
“So, something’s going to change because evil empires don’t last forever,” he said. “There’s always a rebellion. You ever seen Star Wars? That’s what’s going to happen, bro. Darth Vader’s going to get took down.”
The conversation then shifted to Mitchell’s reported comments that he did not want to be part of the UFC White House event. He rejected that framing outright.
“I don’t remember ever saying that,” he said. “I do want to be on the card.”
Mitchell then emphasized that he wasn’t resentful toward the athletes booked for the event and expressed support for them.
“And this is what I got to say,” he added. “First off, I ain’t jealous of any of those athletes. I am so happy for those stars. I don’t think you could have got a better main event. I’m happy for every single last athlete on that card.”
He also made it clear he would step in if needed.
“If they need me to fill in, if I’m healthy, hey, I’ll do it,” he said.
Mitchell then turned to a critique of government involvement in sports, drawing on his academic background.
“I love studying politics on the political side of things. Not the UFC’s business,” he said. “That is, of course, they’re going to say yes to it.”
He continued by arguing that government involvement in sporting events is inappropriate and potentially harmful.
“What I think personally is that our government is desecrating its role in society by entertaining sports,” Mitchell said. “Our government is to protect and serve the people and really should be as minimal as possible.”
He added that such involvement creates structural risks.
“And when you’re doing all of this stuff, hosting sporting events, it’s really outside of what the goal of the government was intended to be because our tax dollars and resources are funding this operation,” he said.
Finally, Mitchell clarified that his criticism was not directed at the UFC or its leadership, but at government participation in such events.
“I’m not criticizing the UFC,” he said. “I love Dana. I love Hunter… I love all of them. And it’s an amazing thing. It’s a once in a lifetime thing.”
He concluded by reiterating his concern about corruption and the role of government.
“But the government should never be hosting sporting events because there’s more room for corruption and we already have a corrupted government,” he said. “And so that’s my thoughts on it is that the government is supposed to protect us, not entertain us.”
