Las Vegas — He admitted to being “dinged up” after the fight, but overall Bryce Mitchell’s fight with Santiago Luna, at bantamweight, was a success.
Mitchell (19-3) improved to 2-0 as a UFC bantamweight at Saturday’s UFC Vegas 118, and the weight class appears to suit him well.
“I just feel matched. I don’t feel big, but I definitely don’t feel small. And I feel like when I get my grips, I can take anybody down in that weight class,” Mitchell said following his submission victory, which came late in the third round, speaking with media outlets including Cageside Press. “I don’t think size will be a disadvantage. I think it’s an equal playing field, whereas I was really outsized at 45.”
There’s been talk of a match-up with Aleksandre Topuria, brother of UFC lightweight champ Ilia, next, though Mitchell wants some time off to heal up. “I would take that fight, absolutely,” Mitchell said on Saturday, backstage at the Meta Apex.
There’s only one fight he wouldn’t agree to, in fact. “The only person that I don’t want to fight is [Marcus] McGhee. Because me and McGhee are related. Most people don’t know that, but me and McGhee are brothers. We’ve got the same father. I don’t think it would be fair, to be fighting my brother like that. Besides fighting my brother, I’ll fight anybody.”
It’s unclear whether Mitchell is serious, but he wasn’t laughing when he said it. If Mitchell and McGhee are in fact related, it’s news to the MMA world. He might also be referring to their shared spirituality, but either way, it’s clear he’s not interested in fighting with McGhee.
Bryce Mitchell turned heads this week, ahead of UFC Vegas 118, when he criticized the U.S. government’s involvement in MMA, mainly the UFC Freedom 250 card at the White House. Known for sparking controversy at the best of times, Mitchell was a surprising voice of reason this time out, suggesting that the government isn’t here to entertain, but rather should be minimal and focused on protecting its people.
Seeing fans resonate with his message, “of course I always want people to love me and agree with me,” noted Mitchell. “That’s not my motivation for saying what I say, it’s not a consensus or trying to appease people,” he continued.
“If I say something, it’s because I think it’s the right thing to say, if my heart’s in the right place. But it’s really nice to see people understand what I’m saying, that I’m not being malicious and that I am happy to be part of the UFC. I am grateful to be here. But I have a voice too, and I can have my opinions while still respecting everybody.”
That said, if he were asked to join the Freedom 250 card next weekend, he’d accept.
“Hey if somebody gets hurt and they need me, I’m gonna put some Icy Hot on my back, and I’ll fight bro,” Mitchell exclaimed. “That’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Watch the full UFC Vegas 118 post-fight press conference with Bryce Mitchell above.