Bryce Mitchell open to replacing O’Malley or Zahabi at UFC White House card

Bryce Mitchell has his reservations about the upcoming UFC White House card, but is volunteering his services if needed. The Arkansas native was victorious at Saturday’s UFC Vegas 118 event, scoring a dramatic submission in the closing seconds of his bantamweight fight against Santiago Luna, and afterwards he spoke to reporters about next Sunday’s historic show set to take place at the White House in Washington, D.C.

The conversation included a question about his thoughts on the Sean O’Malley vs. Aiemann Zahabi matchup, and Mitchell made it clear that should one of the two be unable to compete, he is open to step in on short notice.

“Hey, if somebody gets hurt and they need me, I’m going to put some Icy Hot on my back and I’ll fight,” Mitchell said in a UFC Vegas 118 post-fight scrum. “That’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“I’m going to pick the American,” Mitchell continued. “I’m going to pick O’Malley, he’s American, and I love Tim Welch and I love O’Malley.”

That wasn’t the only UFC White House topic of interest Mitchell was prompted to discuss. Earlier this week, Mitchell was openly critical of the UFC’s collaboration with the current administration, questioning whether it was worthwhile use of the government’s time and resources.

“Our government is to protect and serve the people, and really should be as minimal as possible. … 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,” Mitchell said during Wednesday’s UFC Vegas 118 media day (h/t HuffPost). “And we already have a corrupted government. And so that’s my thoughts on it, is that the government is supposed to protect us, not entertain us.”

Mitchell is no stranger to controversy, as he was previously admonished (though not officially punished) by UFC CEO Dana White for making offensive comments on a podcast in which Mitchell defended Adolf Hitler and shared Holocaust denial theories. This time, he says his opinion on the White House was well-received, and that he didn’t intend to condemn the UFC.

“I always want people to love me and agree with me and you know, that’s not my motivation for saying what I say,” Mitchell said. “It’s not a consensus or trying to appease people. If I say something, it’s generally because I think it’s the right thing to say if my heart’s in the right place.

“But it’s really nice to see people understand what I’m saying, that I’m not being malicious and that I am happy to be part of the UFC. I am grateful to be here, but I have a voice, too, and I can have my opinions while still respecting everybody.”

Having almost gone the distance in a hard-fought battle with Luna, Mitchell remains cautiously optimistic that he can follow up on his backup fighter offer. The UFC Vegas 118 event took place at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 6, 2026. Mitchell, an Arkansas native, improved his professional record to 17-1 with the submission victory over Luna, who dropped to 14-3. Mitchell has been vocal about his desire to compete on major cards and has previously expressed interest in fighting for a title. The upcoming UFC White House card is scheduled for next Sunday and is expected to be a high-profile event. The main event has yet to be officially announced, but rumors suggest a bantamweight title fight. O’Malley, the current bantamweight champion, was expected to headline the event against Zahabi, but recent reports indicate Zahabi may have withdrawn due to injury. Mitchell’s offer to step in highlights the dynamic nature of fight matchmaking and the willingness of fighters to seize opportunities on short notice, especially for a unique event like one hosted at the White House. The potential for such a historic event to feature a fighter like Mitchell, known for his exciting style and outspoken personality, adds another layer of intrigue. His comments regarding the government’s role and the use of public resources for entertainment events, while controversial, also reflect a broader discourse on the intersection of sports, politics, and public funds. Mitchell’s ability to voice these opinions while also expressing his gratitude for his UFC career demonstrates a complex perspective that he hopes resonates with the public and the organization. His physical condition and readiness to compete on short notice will be a key factor in whether his offer can be accepted by UFC officials. “I can’t guarantee anything because sometimes I can’t wake up and can’t walk tomorrow and then sometimes I wake up and be like, ‘Oh, I’ll do a backflip,’” Mitchell said. “There’s no way to know until really tomorrow and I’m going to go home and put some ice on my back.”