Bryce Mitchell’s pre-fight preparations for UFC 314 have taken a decidedly bizarre turn, with the featherweight claiming his opponent, Jean Silva, is sending “demons” to plague his dreams. This supernatural accusation has added a wild layer to their upcoming clash.  

Mitchell, returning to the Octagon after a controversial period marked by Holocaust denial, is now battling a different kind of fight: a nightly war against what he believes are demonic forces. 

“Every single night since the day before the press conference, I’ve had demonic dreams,” Mitchell revealed on Instagram. “Legions of demons are attacking me every single time I sleep and not one time have I seen any peaceful sleep since that day. These demons surround me and they try to fight me and provoke me to anger and then the dream will switch and they’ll send beautiful women and they’re trying to get me to lust. To cheat on my wife. Satan’s using two of my weaknesses to try and expose the evil in my own heart, which is anger and lust.”

Mitchell directly blames Silva for this onslaught of nightmares, claiming the demonic activity began immediately after their pre-fight press conference. He believes Silva is employing dark forces as a form of psychological warfare.  

“I’m not just fighting a man on April 12,” Mitchell declared. “I’m fighting a man possessed by a legion of demons. When I simply said the name Jesus, he was provoked to maliciousness and he started barking like a dog and chanting ‘f – you, f- you, f- you.’”  

Unsurprisingly, Mitchell’s claims have sparked a flurry of reactions. However, Silva’s response was notably grounded in reality. 

Instead of engaging in spiritual debates, Silva offered a more scientific explanation for Mitchell’s unsettling dreams. “Bryce, two things, these are not demons, it’s just you being afraid to face me and second about the beautiful women you have a hormone called testosterone and you probably have problems with it,” Silva tweeted. “Just be ready for April 12th, because I will be.”

Silva’s response suggests Mitchell’s nightmares are rooted in pre-fight anxiety and hormonal fluctuations, dismissing any supernatural involvement. This stark contrast between Mitchell’s spiritual claims and Silva’s scientific rebuttal has added an intriguing dynamic to their upcoming bout.

Whether Mitchell’s dreams are truly demonic or simply manifestations of pre-fight jitters, the bizarre nature of his claims has undeniably added an extra layer of intrigue to UFC 314. As the fight approaches, the question remains: will Mitchell’s “demons” or Silva’s grounded approach prevail?