After being suspended for 17 days ago, Matt Mitrione has now officially been reinstated back into the UFC.
UFC officials confirmed the news on Wednesday (via MMAJunkie.com).
The candid heavyweight fighter felt the wrath of the UFC’s Code of Conduct policy after making several disparaging remarks regarding transgender MMA fighter Fallon Fox.
During an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Mitrione called Fox “a lying, sick, sociopathic, disgusting freak.” The UFC moved quickly and suspended Mitrione for what it deemed as “offensive and wholly unacceptable” comments in an official statement released immediately after the incident.
Over the weekend, UFC president Dana White admitted he wasn’t mad at Mitrione when speaking during the pre-fight media session for UFC on Fox 7.
According to White, Mitrione knows he crossed the line, and hopefully a hefty fine and suspension is more than enough to convince him and others to start being mindful of what they say.
“I’m not mad at Mitrione. He did something stupid. He knows he did something stupid. He knows the way he said it, he didn’t handle it the right way. He knows he did, so I can respect that,” said White (via MMAjunkie.com).
He was fined, too – enough to make him call me three times. I bet he’ll think. I bet before words come out of his mouth … he’s going to go, ‘I better not say that. That’s not good. That’s going to cost me some money.’
Mitrione was one of many fighters to voice disdain for Fox, who was born a man, competing in women’s MMA. Cain Velasquez, Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate have all voiced their concerns, but they chose to do so in a tactful manner, especially following Mitrione‘s suspension.
According to MMA journalist Loretta Hunt’s story in Sports Illustrated, Fox underwent sex reassignment surgery back in 2006, which also included supplemental hormonal therapy. She currently holds a 2-0 record as a professional fighter, with both victories coming by first-round stoppages.
Fortunately for Mitrione, he can now put this entire incident behind him and get back to fighting.
Along with news of his reinstatement, UFC officials also announced Mitrione would be competing at UFC on FOX 8 against fellow TUF season 10 castoff Brendan Schaub.
At UFC 157, Schaub rebounded from back-to-back losses with a rather forgettable unanimous decision victory over Lavar Johnson. Mitrione, on the other hand, is coming off a devastating 19-second knockout win over English heavyweight Philip De Fries.
UFC on Fox 8, which will be headlined by Demetrious Johnson and John Moraga, is scheduled for July 27 at the Key Arena in Seattle, Washington.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com