Latest news with #BryceMitchell
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bryce Mitchell says Ilia Topuria loss still makes him mad, but success 'well deserved'
ABU DHABI – Bryce Mitchell is still not over his loss to UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria. Mitchell (17-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) was submitted by Topuria in their featherweight bout at UFC 282 in December 2022. Mitchell later revealed that he was battling the flu, and unable to perform to the best of his ability. "The Ilia fight, that's the one fight that still just makes me mad to this day," Mitchell told MMA Junkie. "But you live and you learn, and there's nothing I can do about it except do my best this next fight." Both fighters have since switched weight classes, with Mitchell dropping down to bantamweight, and Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) moving up to lightweight. Topuria claimed the vacant 155-pound belt by knocking out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317. "I think that it's well deserved," Mitchell said of Topuria's success. "I don't have any ill-will towards him, I just don't like him because he called me a coward, and I'm not a coward. He is a liar because he called me a coward. I proved that I'm not a coward. "I fought the man, and I'll fight him again. I'm not a coward. He did whoop me, but I'm not a coward. A coward is someone who doesn't show up to fight. He's a liar because he called me a coward. I don't like him, probably never will, but I also don't wish any harm upon him." Mitchell was able to test Topuria's grappling a bit by taking him down once in their fight, and controlling him for over a minute. "Thug Nasty" is adamant that he could get the best of Topuria, but knows a rematch isn't realistic at this point. "I'm better at it than he is," Mitchell said of Topuria's grappling. "I wish I could get that rematch. Obviously, I don't deserve it, but I think that I can beat him. I know I can, but I'll never get to prove that to the world, but that's OK. Not everything happens the way that you want it." Mitchell makes his bantamweight debut in the octagon when he takes on Said Nurmagomedov (18-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) at UFC on ABC 9 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+) on July 26 from Etihad Arena. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Bryce Mitchell reflects on loss to UFC champion Ilia Topuria
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bryce Mitchell adamant only he can beat Merab Dvalishvili: 'I'm going to shake things up'
ABU DHABI – Bryce Mitchell plans on breathing new life into the UFC bantamweight division. Mitchell (17-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) takes on Said Nurmagomedov (18-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) in his return to 135 pounds on July 26 at UFC on ABC 9 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+) from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Mitchell, who's trained with UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili (20-4 MMA, 13-2 UFC) in the past, thinks the division has hit a stagnant point and is confident that he can make some noise with his arrival. "I think it needs to be spiced up a little bit," Mitchell told MMA Junkie of the bantamweight division. "It just needs somebody like me in there to shake things up, and I can almost promise you I'm going to shake things up. ... They need something exciting right now because let's be honest: Nobody's going to beat Merab. Who's going to beat Merab? You're going to have to call somebody that can beat him because right now literally nobody can beat Merab. So they're going to realize that they need a guy like me. Here I am. Call me!" Could it be expected title challenger Cory Sandhagen? Mitchell was quick to dismiss the No. 1 contender's chances. "Thug Nasty" believes that with his size and grappling credentials, he's the only one who can truly push Dvalishvili. "Cory's going to lose, and that's what's going to happen," Mitchell said. "And you can watch the fight just to watch Cory get beat, but he's not going to win. Nobody's going to beat Merab unless they call somebody who knows how to. I love Merab, Merab's actually a great friend of mine, and I can promise you he's going to beat Cory. It's boring! Nobody wants to watch him win and not fight. Everybody wants to see a fight, and I'm telling you, I'm bringing a fight to this division. "It's going to shake things up. It's actually going to get people interested in this division again because once again, nobody wants to watch Merab win easily. ... I've got the only resume that can even possibly compete with him. All these other fights, I mean I guess it'll be a little bit entertaining because you get to see how Merab wins, but it's not going to be a fight. Cory Sandhagen's going to be fighting for air." This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC's Bryce Mitchell adamant only he can beat Merab Dvalishvili
USA Today
19-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC on ABC 9: Bryce Mitchell explains why he moved down to bantamweight
UFC on ABC 9: Bryce Mitchell explains why he moved down to bantamweight Bryce Mitchell will compete at bantamweight for the first time in the UFC for his next fight. A perennial contender at featherweight throughout much of his UFC tenure, "Thug Nasty" came to a realization that he's perhaps a better fit at 135 pounds. That decision came immediately after his submission loss to Jean Silva at UFC 314 in April. "I pretty much made up my mind right after this last fight," Mitchell said in an interview with Home of Fight. "The guy was so much bigger than me, and I really felt it in the second round. In the first round, obviously I could tell he was bigger and stronger, but it was really in the second round where I felt it. I think that I'm a '35er. My weight's already come down quite a bit since I started dieting. I got this call two weeks ago, I think. So, I'm excited about it. Everything's going good." Mitchell (17-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) has been matched up with Said Nurmagomedov (18-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) for his return to bantamweight at UFC on ABC 9 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+) on July 26 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. "I feel like I'm going to win the fight, and I feel like I can beat anybody," Mitchell said of Nurmagomedov. "Him specifically, he's good at a lot of stuff. I respect him, and I'm going to put on a great show. That's a good thing for the fans. No matter how it goes for me or for Said, it's going to go great for the fans. I guarantee you it's going to be a fun fight because I'm going to make it a fun fight."
USA Today
18-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bryce Mitchell to make UFC bantamweight debut vs. Said Nurmagomedov
Bryce Mitchell to make UFC bantamweight debut vs. Said Nurmagomedov Bryce Mitchell will return to the weight class in which he made his professional MMA debut this summer. Mitchell has been booked to face Said Nurmagomedov in a bantamweight bout at UFC on ABC 9 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+) on July 26 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. UFC CEO Dana White announced the booking Wednesday morning. The fight was first reported by Red Corner MMA. Mitchell (17-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) will seek new life at 135 pounds after splitting his past six appearances and dropping two of his past three at featherweight. "Thug Nasty" is coming off a submission loss to Jean Silva at UFC 314 in April and will compete at bantamweight for the first time since January 2015. Nurmagomedov (18-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) has also lost two of his past three and will look to rebound. After a Performance of the Night submission of Muin Gafurov at UFC 294, Nurmagomedov lost a unanimous decision to Vinicius Oliveira in a Fight of the Night effort at UFC Fight Night 250. The current UFC on ABC 9 lineup includes:
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bryce Mitchell Set to Face Said Nurmagomedov at UFC Abu Dhabi After Recent Loss
Bryce Mitchell Set to Face Said Nurmagomedov at UFC Abu Dhabi After Recent Loss originally appeared on Athlon Sports. There's nothing quite like a UFC comeback. Fighters returning from defeat often do so with renewed focus, altered strategies, and something to prove. A recent announcement signals that one of the promotion's most divisive personalities is back—and this time, he's cutting down a division in search of redemption. Advertisement Bryce Mitchell, 30, also known as 'Thug Nasty,' last seen inside the Octagon suffering a second-round guillotine choke loss to the undefeated Jean Silva at UFC 314. That April bout marked Mitchell's second loss in his last three appearances, raising questions about his trajectory in the featherweight division. According to Red Corner MMA, Mitchell is officially booked to return at UFC Fight Night: Abu Dhabi on July 26, where he'll make his bantamweight debut against Said Nurmagomedov. The move to 135 pounds is Mitchell's first major shift since joining the UFC, signaling a possible reinvention after years of grappling-heavy clashes at featherweight. Mitchell is as unpredictable outside the cage as he is inside it. One minute he's dropping conspiracy theories on cable news, the next he's submitting people with a twister. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)(Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) Whether it's his outspoken political views, viral post-fight rants, or signature wardrobe choices, he's carved out a lane as one of the UFC's most controversial and talked-about fighters. Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov—a slick striker from Dagestan—is also looking to rebound after a decision loss to Vinicius Oliveira in February. With both men entering on a skid, the stakes feel amplified. UFC CEO Dana WhitePhoto by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC UFC President Dana White and the promotion are still piecing together the Abu Dhabi card, but this matchup adds intrigue and personality to an already anticipated Fight Night. It will be interesting to see if Mitchell can bounce back and settle in at this new weight class, especially with a dangerous opponent like Nurmagomedov standing in his way. A strong showing could open the door for fresh matchups and a revitalized run in a division loaded with talent. Advertisement Related: Tom Aspinall Reveals Major Update Ahead of UFC Return Related: 'I'll Be Ready' UFC Contender Offers to Back Up Topuria vs Oliveira at UFC 317 This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
