UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell has voiced strong criticism regarding the UFC’s planned major event in 2026, specifically the June card to be held on the South Lawn of the White House. Mitchell, known by his nickname “Thug Nasty,” contends that the UFC is manipulating the sport to serve Donald Trump’s political objectives. Despite this, he still believes the UFC remains the premier sport.

Mitchell Slams UFC White House Card Over Political Ties

Mitchell expressed his views in a direct statement that has gained traction on MMA social media:

I believe the UFC is the best sport globally. However, this White House card strikes me as an egregious exploitation of political favoritism, intended to foster worship of Donald Trump. They are attempting to leverage the most popular sport to align with Trump’s campaign as he allegedly devastates the nation. It’s becoming increasingly clear that this individual aims for global domination, but rest assured, the fights will be excellent!

In a related post, he further elaborated: “I also believe Trump is the antichrist spoken of in Revelation.”

This statement carries particular significance given Mitchell’s previous stance. In December 2024, Mitchell had publicly declared he would “take a bullet and die” for Trump, a sentiment he reiterated during a UFC 310 fight-week press conference following his victory over Kron Gracie. However, less than a year later, his opinion dramatically shifted. In an Instagram video posted in October 2025, he informed his 600,000 followers that he no longer supported the president, describing him as a “corrupted leader” who had misled him on issues concerning the Epstein files, foreign aid to Israel and Ukraine, and beef prices. In the same video, he directed viewers to Revelation 13:3, suggesting Trump could be the figure described as the beast.

The event Mitchell is referring to is “UFC Freedom 250,” scheduled for June 14, 2026. This date coincides with Flag Day, the year marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, and also happens to be Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. Current reports indicate that Ilia Topuria is slated to headline this June 14 event, facing Justin Gaethje for the lightweight title. In the co-main event, Alex Pereira is set to compete against Ciryl Gane for an interim heavyweight belt.

Donald Trump and UFC President Dana White have maintained a close relationship since the early 2000s. White hosted UFC events at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City during a period when many venues were reluctant to associate with the sport. White has been a speaker at the Republican National Convention in 2016, 2020, and 2024, and was present on stage with Trump on election night in 2024. A 2024 New York Times article characterized White as Trump’s “conduit to modern fight fans” and positioned the UFC as the MAGA movement’s “semiofficial sport.” Trump attended UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden shortly after winning the election, accompanied by notable figures like Elon Musk, Mike Johnson, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He was also observed ringside at UFC 327 in Miami earlier this year, where he reportedly advocated for Derrick Lewis to be added to an upcoming fight card.

Bryce Mitchell’s History of Controversial Statements

Mitchell has a history of making headlines for reasons unrelated to his performance in the cage. In January 2025, during the inaugural episode of his podcast “ArkanSanity,” he controversially referred to Adolf Hitler as a “good guy,” denied the Holocaust, and made homophobic remarks. These statements prompted Dana White to label them as the most “egregious” comments he had ever heard. The UFC opted not to discipline Mitchell, citing freedom of speech. Mitchell has also publicly endorsed the flat-earth theory, accused Israel of responsibility for the 9/11 attacks, and suggested that Brazilian fighter Jean Silva was “possessed by demons.” His loss to Silva at UFC 314 in April 2025 occurred shortly before his public falling out with Trump.

Taken collectively, Mitchell’s recent statement positions a fighter associated with the MAGA movement, from within the UFC roster itself, as openly critical of the promotion’s flagship event, framing it as a mere campaign tool. This perspective highlights that opposition to the White House card has primarily emerged from political commentators rather than from fighters participating in the event.

English Translation:

Bryce Mitchell Accuses UFC of Trying to ‘Make People Worship Antichrist Donald Trump’ with White House Event

UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell has zeroed in on the UFC’s biggest show of 2026. In a fresh rant aimed at the June event on the South Lawn, the fighter known as “Thug Nasty” accused Dana White’s promotion of bending the sport around Donald Trump’s political agenda, even while admitting he still thinks the UFC is the best sport going.

Bryce Mitchell Slams UFC White House Card Over Donald Trump Ties

Mitchell laid out his view in a blunt statement that has been making the rounds on MMA social media:

“I do think the UFC is the best sport in the world, however this White House card, I do think, is an egregious use of political favor to make people worship Donald Trump. They are trying to make the most popular sport and make it conducive to Trump’s campaign while he destroys this nation… How much clearer does it get this guy is trying to take over the world, but hey don’t worry, the fights are going to be great!”

In the caption, he added: “I also think Trump is an antichrist of Revelation.”

The quote lands with extra weight because of who is saying it. Mitchell told reporters in December 2024 that he would “take a bullet and die” for Trump, a line he repeated during a UFC 310 fight-week press conference after beating Kron Gracie. Less than a year later he flipped hard, posting an Instagram video in October 2025 telling his 600,000 followers he no longer supported the president, calling him a “corrupted leader” who had “tricked” him on the Epstein files, on foreign aid to Israel and Ukraine, and on beef prices. In the same clip he pointed viewers to Revelation 13:3 and suggested Trump could be the beast described there.

The card Mitchell is describing is “UFC Freedom 250,” set for June 14, 2026 on the South Lawn of the White House. The date is Flag Day, the 250th anniversary year of American independence, and Trump’s 80th birthday. The latest on the UFC White House fight card is that Ilia Topuria is now set to headline the June 14 event against Justin Gaethje for the lightweight title, while Alex Pereira is booked to face Ciryl Gane in the co-main for an interim heavyweight belt.

Trump and Dana White have been close since the early 2000s, when Trump hosted UFC events at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City at a time when most venues would not touch the sport. White has spoken at the Republican National Convention in 2016, 2020 and 2024, and was on stage with Trump on election night 2024. A 2024 New York Times profile described White as Trump’s “conduit to modern fight fans” and framed the UFC as the MAGA movement’s “semiofficial sport”. Trump attended UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden days after winning the election, flanked by Elon Musk, Mike Johnson and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and was ringside again at UFC 327 in Miami earlier this year, where he reportedly pushed for Derrick Lewis to be added to an upcoming card.

Bryce Mitchell’s History of Controversy

Mitchell is no stranger to headlines away from the cage. In January 2025 he used the first episode of his “ArkanSanity” podcast to call Adolf Hitler a “good guy,” deny the Holocaust and spread homophobic remarks, prompting Dana White to call the comments the most “egregious” thing he had heard in his career. The UFC declined to discipline him, citing free speech. Mitchell has also claimed the Earth is flat, blamed Israel for 9/11 and suggested Brazilian fighter Jean Silva was “possessed by demons.” He lost to Silva at UFC 314 in April 2025, a defeat that preceded his public break with Trump.

Taken together, the new quote puts a MAGA-aligned fighter from inside the UFC roster on record calling the promotion’s marquee event a campaign prop. The framing puts into perspective that pushback against the White House card has come from political commentators rather than fighters on the card.