An MMA event at Orlando's Kia Center has drawn widespread condemnation after kickboxer Paul Miller directed antisemitic slurs at his Jewish opponent and a spectator unfurled a swastika flag inside the arena on Saturday.
The combat sports event, titled Duel: Arena 1, took place at the venue that serves as home court for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association, though the facility itself is owned by the City of Orlando.
The fight night descended into hostile scenes when Miller launched into an expletive-laden, offensive tirade against opponent Ben 'King' Azoulay, a Jewish fighter who entered the ring with an Israeli flag behind him.
Miller, a far-right internet personality who calls himself Gypsy Crusader, addressed the crowd directly over an arena microphone before the match began.
"He's not a tough guy," Miller said into the microphone for the whole arena to hear. "He's not some alpha male. He's a short little f****ing Jew prick."
Moments later, Miller reportedly appeared to twice make a Nazi salute as he stepped out of the ring following the bout.
In addition to Miller's actions inside the ring, a spectator in the arena crowd was reportedly caught on video unfurling a flag with a swastika on it, according to local news station News 6.
Municipal Response and Venue Policies
The Kia Center is a major indoor arena located in downtown Orlando, Florida. Operating as a municipal venue managed under the city's Orlando Venues division, the arena regularly hosts professional basketball, concerts, and major entertainment events.
Following public outcry over the event, the City of Orlando issued a statement clarifying that it does not condone the antisemitic messaging displayed inside the facility.
"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," the statement added. "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."
City officials explained that because the arena is a government-owned public facility, municipal authorities are bound by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and cannot deny entry to an event based on political ideology.
However, officials acknowledged that it remains unclear how a flag featuring a swastika was permitted past venue security checkpoints during event entry.
"However, that legal reality does not soften our condemnation of what occurred," the spokesperson's 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."
Reaction from Elected Officials
Orlando City Mayor Buddy Dyer, who has served as the city's chief executive since 2003, strongly condemned the display of hate symbols inside the city-owned facility in a statement posted to social media.
"Symbols of hate, including the Nazi flag, were brought to Kia Center this weekend," Dyer 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 Representative Anna Eskamani, a Democrat who represents the Orlando region in the Florida House of Representatives and is a candidate for Orlando mayor, also released a statement expressing outrage over the event.
"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," Eskamani stated on social media. "We cannot normalize this. Ever."
Background of Paul Miller
Miller is a convicted felon who has been described by the Anti-Defamation League as a "volatile white supremacist-accelerationist" and has a history of publishing antisemitic hatred online.
The Anti-Defamation League is an international non-governmental organization dedicated to tracking extremist groups, hate speech, and antisemitism.
In 2021, federal agents from the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force raided Miller's residence in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He subsequently pleaded guilty to three federal felony counts involving possession of an unregistered firearm, possession of ammunition, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
During the federal prosecution, federal prosecutors stated that Miller had posted online messages expressing hatred toward minority groups and encouraging a race-based civil war.
According to federal Bureau of Prisons records, Miller was released from federal custody in July 2023.
Promoter Reaction and Post Fight Statements
Event organizer Duel: Arena did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the incident or security protocols at the event.
When contacted by local station Fox 35, Miller stated that he did not see an issue with what occurred during the event.
Following the bout, Azoulay posted a message on X stating that antisemitism had "become more clear to me now" and pledged to "take down every Anti Semite."
