UFC 314 is without debate the most stacked fight card of 2025 thus far.

A vacant featherweight title will be up for grabs in the headliner, and two of the most popular lightweights in mixed martial arts are set for a five-round co-main event. Yet it is a grudge match between a Bible-toting, camouflage-wearing American from Arkansas and a rambunctious, barking Brazilian that has become the peoples’ main event heading into this weekend in Miami.

Bryce Mitchell vs. Jean Silva is sandwiched in the middle of Saturday’s pay-per-view card, and there’s a great deal of hype surrounding this matchup.

Mitchell has been under pressure this year and has faced significant criticism ever since his late January comments during an episode of his podcast, some of which spoke favourably about Adolf Hitler. His remarks were later addressed by Dana White.

The UFC president publicly lambasted Mitchell and described him as “one of the dumbest human beings on the planet.” However, Mitchell did not receive any official punishment from White or the organization.

“That’s what everybody wants to hear about: punishment. It’s free speech, I don’t have to love it, you don’t have to love it,” White said at the time before adding, “That’s the beautiful thing about this business, for all of you who hate Bryce Mitchell, you get to see him hopefully get his ass whooped on global television.”

A few weeks later, during a Fight Night event in Seattle, Silva added another highlight knockout win to his record and used his time on the microphone to call out Mitchell.

“There’s a guy that’s been talking a lot of crap. Bryce Mitchell. Dana, put me in front of him and I’ll do the job,” Silva said following a one-round victory over Melsik Baghdasaryan.

It didn’t take long for Mitchell to accept the challenge and for the organization to quickly add the bout to the UFC 314 lineup.

This three-round, 145-pound matchup is appealing on multiple levels.

First and foremost, combat sports fans are drawn to any grudge match where the heat is legitimate, and this one ticks that box.

There was some speculation leading up to the event that the UFC might not allow Mitchell to participate in media events after his earlier controversial comments. However, it has been business as usual this week for the fighters and the promotion.

The outspoken 30-year-old was asked about the criticism he has faced as well as his matchup with Silva this week during the UFC 314 media day, and Mitchell was candid in his responses.

“Dana, he is entitled to all of his opinions, and I’m glad he said everything that he did, and I have nothing bad to say about Dana,” Mitchell began. “I love him so much with all my heart. … And if everybody thinks I’m dumb, that’s fine. Say it. Let it be known because it’s your right to think I’m dumb and say why. State why you think I’m dumb. I love that. He’s a real man, he’s not afraid to state his opinions, and everybody’s entitled to their own opinions.

“There should be no censorship. If somebody thinks I’m a total dumbass, come on, call me out for it. If you don’t agree with my views on history and politics, call me out on it, but don’t censor me, don’t tell me I can’t say this or that when I’m not producing speech that’s violent, that’s hateful. I’m just simply talking about how I view history, and I know what I know and I love the world. I’ve never told anybody that I hated them because that’s against Jesus, that’s against what I believe in. I want to hear what people truly think of me.”

Mitchell most recently fought at UFC 310 in December when he slammed Kron Gracie out cold for his first career knockout win. He is 17-2 as a pro, with his only losses coming to the unbeaten Ilia Topuria by submission in 2022 and to Josh Emmett via a brutal knockout in late 2023.

Regardless of whether the fans at Kaseya Center love him or hate him, Mitchell expects the atmosphere to be boisterous when he and Silva enter the cage. Mitchell also said regardless of whether Silva views the fight as personal, “I’m gonna personally whoop his a–.”

Silva did not hold back either when speaking with reporters in Florida.

“Listen, he’s fought Ilia Topuria, he beat Edson Barboza, Dan Ige, everything was going good until that knockout,” Silva said with the help of a translator. “Until he got knocked out by Josh Emmett, and I think that really messed up his brain and his emotions and everything just kind of went wrong. You can tell that he’s not looking at this the same way that he used to look at it before. It just really messed him up.”

Silva has won 12 in a row overall with 11 finishes during that stretch and believes he knows how his bout with Mitchell will unfold. 

“The fight’s going to go, he’s going to try to take me down, I’m going to defend, I’m going to throw some shots at his head, might knock him out in the first, in the second,” Silva said. “We’ll see, but maybe he’ll need to retire after this because he’s going to have some brain damage after this one.”

Another reason fans are looking forward to Mitchell vs. Silva is the meme factor.

Mitchell and Silva are two of the more unique characters on the entire UFC roster — let that sink in for a second — and neither is afraid to flaunt their individuality.

Mitchell isn’t shy about expressing his beliefs, many of which are considered off the beaten path. He often carries a Bible with him into the cage, believes the Earth is flat, and once inadvertently drilled through his own scrotum with a power drill. You can begin listing random factoids about Mitchell and his life and quickly begin sounding like you’re Theo Von recording a stream-of-consciousness podcast.

Suffice it to say Mitchell does not approve of Silva’s “Lord” nickname either.

Silva, who often literally barks like a wild dog and at times fights like one, has been poking fun at Mitchell in the buildup to the fight. He even brought a globe with him to a March press conference to promote Saturday’s event and take a jab at his opponent’s beliefs.

At one point during his time on stage at UFC 314 media day this week, Silva mistakenly believed he heard Mitchell speaking nearby backstage and immediately began barking to interrupt what he thought might’ve been an interview.

Imagine the potential shenanigans and gamesmanship that could occur when the cage door locks and Round 1 begins.

Lastly, and ultimately most importantly when it comes to this bout and the overall integrity of the sport, this one is also highly compelling from a competition standpoint.

Silva is currently unranked in the 145-pound division but is the betting favourite heading into the fight. A win over the No. 13-ranked Mitchell will result in Silva entering the top 15 of the division and undoubtedly in another high-profile matchup later this year.

The 28-year-old member of the red-hot Fighting Nerds team that also boasts rising UFC stars Carlos Prates, Caio Borralho and Mauricio Ruffy, among others, has won all four of his UFC appearances by stoppage.

Silva beat Westin Wilson, Charles Jourdain and Drew Dober all by knockout or technical knockout during his UFC rookie campaign in 2024 and plans on removing Mitchell from his senses at UFC 314.

“I don’t underestimate this man,” Mitchell added. “I know this is gonna be a fight, and I’m gonna go in there and be prepared to do anything I have to do to win. It’s a fight, brother, we start on the feet and if you think I can’t punch, watch the fight.”