UFC Suspends Mitrione For Berating Trans Fighter Fallon Fox

A UFC fighter was suspended after making transphobic remarks about transgender fighter Fallon Fox on a webcast of The MMA Hour.

Matt Mitrione had just won a match versus Phillip De Fries with a 19-second knockout. On the show two days later, he called Fox a "lying, sick, sociopathic, disgusting freak." He continually referred to Fox as "he" and "him," and said he was appalled that Fox was fighting other women, according to USA Today.

"It's an embarrassment to us as fighters, as a sport, and we all should protest that," Mitrione said. "The woman that's fighting him, props to you. I hope you beat his ass, and I hope he gets blackballed and never fights again because that's disgusting and I'm appalled by that."

Shortly after, the UFC announced that Mitrioned's contract would be suspended, and that he would be investigated.

"The UFC was appalled by the transphobic comments made by heavyweight Matt Mitrione today in an interview on The MMA Hour," the statement read. "The organization finds Mr. Mitrione's comments offensive and wholly unacceptable and - as a direct result of this significant breach of the UFC's code of conduct - Mr. Mitrione's UFC contract has been suspended and the incident is being investigated. The UFC is a friend and ally of the (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community, and expects and requires all 450 of its athletes to treat others with dignity and respect.

Fox came out publicly as transgender earlier this year.