Controversial UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell says his upcoming opponent is possessed by a 'legion of demons' which have haunted his dreams and tested his will and character.

Mitchell, who made headlines earlier this year for praising Adolf Hitler, is set to face Jean Silva at UFC 314 on April 12.

However, the 30-year-old American says he's been plagued by 'demonic dreams' since a press conference earlier this month.

Mitchell called on Christian warriors to pray for him ahead of the showdown with Silva so he can finally get some peaceful sleep.

'Good morning, y'all,' Mitchell said in a clip posted to Instagram. 

'I need all my Christian warriors to pray for me that I will have peaceful sleep. Every single night since the day before the press conference, I've had demonic dreams.

'Legions of demons are attacking me every single time I sleep, and not one time have I seen any peaceful sleep since that day.

'These demons surround me, and they try to fight me and provoke me to anger, and then the dream will switch, and they'll send beautiful women, and they're trying to get me to lust, to cheat on my wife. 

'Satan's using two of my weaknesses to try to expose the evil in my own heart, which is anger and lust. However, where I am weak, the Lord is strong.'

Mitchell believes that the demons in his dreams have also taken control of Silva, and he plans on expelling them when the pair square off in Miami.

'I'm not just fighting a man on April 12,' Mitchell said. 'I'm fighting a man possessed by a legion of demons. 

'When I simply said the name Jesus, he was provoked to maliciousness, and he started barking like a dog and chanting "F-you, f-you, f-you."

'Remember guys, the days of fighting for myself are long gone. I now fight for the name of the Lord and the devil, he ain't gonna waste his time trying to plague a loser.

'He knows that a victory for the Lord is at hand. I will win this fight in the name of Jesus Christ. The man's demons will be casted out of my presence and he will fall before me just as Goliath fell before King David.'

On Monday evening, Silva addressed Mitchell's bizarre comments, claiming the Arkansas native is simply 'afraid' of their upcoming bout.

'Bryce, two things, these are not demons, it's just you being afraid to face me and second about the beautiful women you have a hormone called testosterone and you probably have problems with it,' Silva wrote on X. 

'Just be ready for April 12th, because I will be.'