World News

Officials condemn antisemitic remarks and Nazi imagery at Orlando combat sports event

A combat sports event in Orlando drew widespread political condemnation after a fighter used antisemitic slurs and a spectator waved a swastika flag.

Updated Sep 2, 2026 · 18:18 UTC1 reports

The short version

A kickboxing match at the city-owned Kia Center in Orlando sparked outrage after fighter Paul Miller made antisemitic remarks over the loudspeaker and appeared to perform Nazi salutes.
A spectator was removed for displaying a large swastika flag, and several physical fights occurred among attendees after the bout.
Bipartisan lawmakers, the Orlando mayor, and corporate sponsor Kia condemned the behavior, while city venue operators defended hosting the event under First Amendment obligations.
Orlando Venues is reviewing its admittance and event policies while balancing legal free-speech mandates.

During a Duel Arena kickboxing event at Orlando's Kia Center, fighter Paul Miller hurled an antisemitic slur at his opponent Ben Azoulay and appeared to perform Nazi salutes.[The Guardian]
Security ejected an attendee for waving a swastika flag inside the venue, and multiple brawls broke out in the crowd following the headline match.[The Guardian]
Orlando Venues, the municipal agency operating the arena, stated that as a public entity it was legally obligated by the First Amendment not to deny access based on political opinions.[The Guardian]
Officials including Democratic State Representative Anna Eskamani, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, and Republican US Senator Rick Scott denounced the antisemitic actions.[The Guardian]
Kia America stated it has no operational role in the venue but commended staff for their response while condemning the hateful conduct.[The Guardian]
Miller previously served a 41-month federal prison sentence for weapons offenses, while his opponent Azoulay holds a prior conviction related to the sexual assault of a minor.[The Guardian]

It remains unexplained by city officials and venue management how a spectator was able to bring a large swastika flag past arena security checkpoints.[The Guardian]