Flat-Earth Debate in UFC? 155lbs king Ilia Topuria Challenged by Controversial Fighter Bryce Mitchell

Mitchell has long leaned on his interpretation of scripture to defend his worldview. He stated that rejecting his belief was equal to rejecting God’s truth. By framing the disagreement in religious terms, Mitchell intensified the conflict. The controversial fighter also came after Topuria recently, as he demanded revenge for their 2022 outing at 145lbs, which resulted in Mitchell being submitted by ‘El Matador’.

The 30-year-old has become one of the UFC’s most outspoken flat-Earth believers. He frequently claims that influential organizations hide the Earth’s actual shape. In interviews, Mitchell has insisted that scripture supports his view, framing the planet as flat by divine design.

Inside the cage, Mitchell holds a professional record of 18–4. His career highlight came with a strong run of victories against opponents such as Edson Barboza and Dan Ige. However, his momentum was stalled over losses to Topuria and Josh Emmett. More recently, he has struggled to regain consistency. However, his last Octagon outing against Said Nurmagomedov at 135lbs was successful.

The debate between Mitchell and Topuria highlights how personal beliefs can spill into professional rivalries. While victories and losses shape careers, words also create lasting legacies. Their conflict proves that when it comes to the fight game, battles are fought both inside the cage and far beyond it.

Bryce Mitchell talks about his latest win at 135lbs against Said Nurmagomedov

Bryce Mitchell was always vocal about his faith and resilience inside the cage. Those qualities were tested most severely against Said Nurmagomedov while making his bantamweight debut at UFC Abu Dhabi. Mitchell got back in the win column after a unanimous decision win over the Russian in July 2025. The fight became less about winning and more about enduring.

‘Thug Nasty’ spoke about the spiritual aspect of the fight in the post-fight press conference. During the grueling contest, Mitchell felt overwhelmed by exhaustion and pain. Breathing became nearly impossible, and he described the sensation as being close to death itself. The 30-year-old also admitted that he prayed for survival and pleaded with God to carry him through.

I wish it would have been more exciting for the fans, but I was just fighting for my life. I really was praying during the fight. I remember fighting for air, I remember getting hit and seeing lights. It was a really, really hard fight. If you ever get in one of those, I just recommend you pray. I was literally praying, ‘Jesus, please just keep me alive,’ and I was fighting with all my strength.

Bryce Mitchell via UFC Abu Dhabi post fight press conference

The moment revealed how Mitchell’s faith guided him when his body broke down. Just as with his flat-Earth beliefs, conviction shaped his response to adversity. For Mitchell, prayer was as vital as technique, offering strength when survival seemed unlikely.