Fallon Fox, transgender female fighter, was the target of offensive remarks by heavyweight male fighter Matt Mitrione. As a result, Mitrione was suspended by the UFC Monday.
Fox was recently cleared of wrongdoing by the Florida State Boxing Commission after she did not disclose that she was born a male on her application for an MMA fighting license, according to ESPN.
March 4, Fox came out as transgender to SI.com after beating Ericka Newsome in the Championship Fighting Alliance featherweight quarterfinal. Fox received gender reassignment surgery in 2006 and underwent supplemental hormonal therapy.
Mitrione called Fox a “lying, sick, sociopathic, disgusting freak” Monday on the Internet talk show “MMA Hour.”
UFC responded in a statement on its website saying, “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. Mitrion’s UFC contract has been suspended and the incident is being investigated.”
It also noted that it requires all of its athletes to “treat others with dignity and respect.” The UFC released an official code of conduct for its fighters in January.
Mitrione is a former NFL player who has participated on “The Ultimate Fighter.”
Fox has a 5-0 combined record as a professional and amateur fighter and has won all of her matches in the first round. There is still some controversy about whether she offers a fair fight to opponents or if she has a physical advantage.
Fox commented on the incident to MMAFighting.com saying, “Matt Mitrione went well beyond disagreeing with the medical experts who say I should be able to compete as a woman, and personally attacked me as a fighter, as a woman, and as a human being.”
