The Broken Clock Theory: Why Bryce Mitchell is Right About UFC Freedom 250

In its simplest form, people use the term "character" as a catch-all to refer to individuals whose eccentricities make them stand out. These traits can be positive, like retired heavyweight Roy Nelson rubbing his stomach, or negative, like middleweight Rousimar Palhares' tendency to try to detach limbs by holding submissions for too long. Then, standing out even among that crowd, there is featherweight Bryce Mitchell.

While Mitchell's character warrants deeper discussion, it was his recent comments regarding UFC Freedom 250 that caught people's attention.

"First off, I ain't jealous of any of those fighters," Mitchell said. "I am so happy for those fighters. I don't think you could have got a better main event. I'm happy for every single last fighter on that card. If they need me to fill in, if I'm healthy, I'll do it. For the UFC, I think it's great. It's beyond great."

On the surface, it sounds like the quote of a loyal company man, effusively praising the UFC and, by extension, TKO. Yet, in his very next breath, the 31-year-old Arkansas native shifted focus to shade the co-sponsor of the event: the United States government.

Bryce Mitchell Rips into US Government Ahead of UFC Freedom 250

"But as far as the government, I'm an economics major. I love studying politics. On the political side of things, not the UFC's business, of course they're going to say yes to it. But what I think personally is our government is desecrating its role in society by entertaining sports. Our government is to protect and serve the people and really should be as minimal as possible."

To start, majoring in economics does not automatically grant anyone mystical insight; truly understanding political processes and functions requires real nuance. Even so, Mitchell's assertions about government overreach seem to form a coherent point. Yet, when you consider the source, the weight of his opinion begins to wane.

Does Bryce Mitchell's Opinion Hold Water? 

Mitchell is an avowed conspiracy theorist who believes the Earth is flat and that gravity isn't real. Worse, he has previously expressed admiration for some of the most widely condemned figures in modern history.

Two things can be true at once: An event like UFC Freedom 250 can easily feel like a propaganda-heavy affair used as a governmental tool, and Mitchell isn't wrong to point that out. However, given his track record of bizarre claims on a myriad of other topics, can this specific opinion really be validated?