A mixed martial arts event at Orlando’s Kia Center sparked widespread backlash Saturday after one fighter was accused of making antisemitic remarks and offensive gestures during the show.
The downtown Orlando venue, best known as the home arena of the NBA’s Orlando Magic and owned by the city of Orlando, was hosting Duel: Arena 1, a weekend combat sports card.
The fight night took an ugly turn when kickboxer Paul Miller directed a profanity-filled rant at his Jewish opponent, drawing outrage from those who heard the comments inside the arena.
Speaking into a microphone for the crowd to hear, Miller mocked his opponent’s toughness and used an antisemitic insult while attempting to belittle him.
As he exited the ring moments later, Miller was also reported to have twice made a gesture resembling a Nazi salute.
An MMA event at Orlando’s Kia Center drew condemnation following antisemitic gestures
Kickboxer Paul Miller launched into an expletive-laden, offensive tirade at his Jewish opponent
Meanwhile, a fan in the crowd was reportedly caught on video unfurling a flag with a swastika on it, according to News 6.
The City of Orlando, which owns the Kia Center, said it does not condone the antisemitic messaging displayed at the event.
‘Orlando Venues and the City of Orlando unequivocally condemn all forms of hate speech, discrimination, antisemitism, racism and any message that encourages hatred or violence against any person or group,’ an Orlando Venues spokesperson said in a statement provided to the Daily Mail.
‘We understand that many people in the Orlando community feel hurt, angry and concerned about the recent Duel Arena event. To be clear: those views belong solely to the individuals who expressed them. They do not reflect the values of Orlando Venues, the City of Orlando or our staff that work tirelessly to provide a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.’
However, the City of Orlando said that it is bound by the First Amendment and could not deny entry to the arena based on political ideology. It remains unclear how a swastika flag was allowed past security into the event.
‘However, that legal reality does not soften our condemnation of what occurred,’ the statement continued. ‘We hear the community’s concern and we take it seriously.
‘Orlando Venues remains committed to ensuring our facilities are safe and inclusive. We will continue reviewing our event policies to uphold that commitment while respecting the Constitution.’
Duel: Arena did not immediately respond to the Daily Mail’s requests for comment. Meanwhile, Miller told Fox 35 that he did not see an issue with the incident.
Miller, who calls himself Gypsy Crusader, faced Ben ‘King’ Azoulay, a Jewish fighter
Orlando City Mayor Buddy Dyer condemned the hateful gestures in a statement online
Orlando City Mayor Buddy Dyer also condemned the hateful gestures in a statement shared to social media.
‘Symbols of hate, including the Nazi flag, were brought to Kia Center this weekend,’ he wrote. ‘But hate will never be welcome here. Our community will continue to stand against antisemitism and all forms of hate to ensure that Orlando is a place where every person is valued and respected.’
State Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Democrat who represents the Orlando area in the Florida Capitol and a current mayoral candidate, wrote on social media that she was ‘disgusted’ by the incident.
‘It’s disgusting, and another reminder of how prevalent extremism is in our society and the responsibility we all have to combat antisemitism, racism, white supremacy, and more,’ she said. ‘We cannot normalize this. Ever.’
Azoulay took to X after the fight, saying antisemitism had ‘become more clear to me now.’ He pledged to ‘take down every Anti Semite.’
Miller, a convicted felon, has been described by the Anti-Defamation League as a ‘volatile white supremacist-accelerationist’ and has previously espoused antisemitic hatred.
In 2021, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force raided his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He subsequently pleaded guilty to three felony counts for possession of an unregistered firearm and ammunition and possession of a weapon as a felon.
Federal prosecutors said at the time that Miller had also posted online about his hatred of minority groups and support for a race-based civil war.
He was released from federal prison in July 2023, according to the Bureau of Prisons.