Dana White, CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship introduces Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump during the final day of the Republican National Convention.

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Dana White Clarifies Rumors Of “Putting A Hit Out” On Controversial Fighter Bryce Mitchell

UFC CEO Dana White Gives his take on the making of Jean Silva vs. Bryce Mitchell after rumors of retribution started surfacing!

Dana White, CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship introduces Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump during the final day of the Republican National Convention.

Fighters rise and fall quickly in the talent-packed featherweight class of the UFC. Recently, a new name has been making waves, the Brazilian knockout artist Jean Silva. After scoring his fourth straight knockout victory at UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song, Silva boldly called out Arkansas’ own Bryce Mitchell. Little did fans know this callout would quickly turn into one of the most anticipated matchups of early 2025, with UFC boss Dana White having to address some unusual rumors along the way.

Mitchell has been a polarizing figure in MMA circles lately. The 30-year-old grappling specialist found himself in hot water after making highly controversial comments about Adolf Hitler. His remarks about Hitler sparked immediate backlash from fans and fellow fighters alike. Dana White was forced to address the situation at a Power Slap press conference, where he called Mitchell “dumb” but refused to cut him from the roster. Some fans wondered if the UFC might use matchmaking as a subtle form of punishment, pairing Mitchell with dangerous knockout artists as a way to teach him a lesson.

Also Read: Justin Gaethje’s Opponent Revealed UFC 313 Co-Main Event Gets Saved By Much Anticipated Rematch!

Dana White Gives His Take On The Matchup

When news broke that Mitchell would indeed face the Silva on April 12 in Miami, speculation swirled about the UFC’s intentions. Was this Dana White’s way of getting to the controversial fighter? The UFC CEO quickly shut down those rumors during a recent video.

“Silva, who fought last weekend, and had an unbelievable performance in Seattle. Immediately calls out Bryce Mitchell. Bryce Mitchell immediately texts Hunter Campbell and says I want the fight. So we made it. April 12th in Miami, Silva vs Mitchell. I didn’t want anybody to think we are putting a hit out on Bryce Mitchell. Bryce Mitchell literally texted immediately after he said, said he wants the fight. So we are doing it in Miami.”

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This matchup represents a fascinating clash of styles. Silva has torn through the division with his devastating power, leaving opponents crumpled on the canvas. His most recent victory over Melsik Baghdasaryan was particularly frightening. It was the kind of knockout that makes other fighters think twice about signing bout agreements.

Mitchell, meanwhile, brings an entirely different skill set to the table. His smothering wrestling and twister submissions have earned him the notoriety of his nickname “Thug Nasty” and multiple performance bonuses. The Arkansas native has already shown signs of taking this fight seriously, pulling out of a scheduled grappling match to focus entirely on preparing for Silva.

Bad Blood Between The Two Featherweights

The war of words between these two has only added fuel to the fire. After Silva’s callout, Mitchell fired back on social media:

“There’s only one LORD. And it ain’t you, fool. You need a country a** whoopin’. It will humble you just right.”

Silva, clearly unintimidated, responded with a dig at Mitchell’s well-known flat earth beliefs:

“Ok, ok, but I’m gonna beat you until you see the Earth is round.”

Ok ok, but I’m gonna beat you until you see the earth is round.
— Jean de Lord Silva (@Jeansilvamma96) February 24, 2025

This kind of pre-fight banter has fans eagerly anticipating what happens when these two finally meet in the octagon. For Bryce Mitchell, this represents a chance at redemption beyond just his fighting career. For Silva, defeating someone with Mitchell’s name recognition could fast-track him to the division’s upper echelon!

(Image Credit: Jasper Colt – Imagn Images)

Bryce Mitchell

Dana White

Jean Silva

UFC 314

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!