After securing a victory at UFC Abu Dhabi, Bryce Mitchell has directed a pointed callout toward Umar Nurmagomedov, expressing strong interest in a potential fight. The UFC’s recent Fight Night event in Abu Dhabi featured several notable bouts, but Mitchell’s win and his subsequent remarks drew particular attention for their bold tone involving the Nurmagomedov brothers.
Recap of UFC Abu Dhabi Highlights and Mitchell’s Victory
The UFC event in Abu Dhabi showcased Reinier de Ridder’s endurance as he outlasted former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in a competitive five-round battle. Petr Yan also made his mark by defeating Marcus McGhee, positioning himself for another title opportunity. Meanwhile, Bryce Mitchell faced Said Nurmagomedov in a bantamweight contest, emerging victorious after a challenging match.
Mitchell’s Bold Response to Possibility of Facing Umar Nurmagomedov
During the post-fight press conference, Mitchell was asked whether a bout against Umar Nurmagomedov would interest him. Mitchell responded without hesitation, indicating openness and enthusiasm for such a matchup. He stated,
“I think that would be a pretty damn good fight,”
and added,
“Hell, why not? I already fought one of them, let’s just fight all the Nurmagomedovs that there is.”
—Bryce Mitchell, UFC fighter
Fighting Said Nurmagomedov Was a Grueling Battle
Mitchell acknowledged the difficulty of his fight against Said Nurmagomedov, describing it as a battle that pushed him to his limits. He noted the importance of his conditioning at 135 pounds and how much effort it took to persevere. Mitchell revealed,
“I think that I have better cardio at ’35, and that was a really, really hard fight,”
explaining,
“I think he was tired, too. He hurt me real bad in the first round, but I don’t even remember half of the first round. If you take away that one shot, maybe I wouldn’t be as jacked up as I am, I don’t know. But, it was a really, really hard fight. I wish it would have been more exciting for the fans, but I was just fighting for my life. I really was praying during the fight.”
—Bryce Mitchell, UFC fighter
Mitchell’s Move to Bantamweight and Career Outlook
Mitchell’s recent success at bantamweight follows a mixed record at featherweight, where he earned wins against Dan Ige, Edson Barboza, and Andre Fili but suffered losses to Ilia Topuria, Josh Emmett, and Jean Silva. He believes the cut to 135 pounds will help him achieve more consistent success going forward, aiming to leverage his improved cardio and resilience in this division.
Potential Future Implications for UFC Matchups
Mitchell’s challenge to Umar Nurmagomedov injects fresh anticipation into the bantamweight division, where the Nurmagomedov family has garnered significant attention. Should Umar accept the callout, it could lead to a highly competitive and eagerly awaited clash that might impact title contention and rankings. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if this proposed matchup comes to fruition in upcoming UFC events.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Has Umar Nurmagomedov ever lost a fight?
A. Merab Dvalishvili displayed impressive endurance, giving Umar Nurmagomedov his first defeat at UFC 311.