“Thug Nasty” believes his popularity is being slept on by UFC and is begging them to cash him out with a win over Dan Ige in “Sin City.”
Is Bryce Mitchell on his way to becoming an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) superstar? “Thug Nasty” certainly believes that’s the way things will trend after he defeats Dan Ige in UFC Vegas 79’s co-main event this weekend (Sat., Sept. 23, 2023) inside UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The No. 10-ranked Mitchell is 15-1 and coming off his first professional mixed martial arts (MMA) loss to Ilia Topuria earlier this year (watch highlights). It was such a one-sided brutal affair that Mitchell considered retirement. But, he then later admitted he was sick as a dog for that bout and only fought for the money. He’s hoping to erase the memory of that fight from fans’ memories by taking out No. 12-seeded Ige, who is 2-0 after a three fight losing streak.
“I don’t think I’ll have to call out no names,” Mitchell said during UFC Vegas 79 media day. “I think there’s going to be a realization that I’m the cash cow. Eventually, somebody is going to realize they’re sitting on gold. They think I’m fool’s gold. I’m not. I’m real gold. They’re sitting on gold.
“They need to cash me out,” Mitchell continued. “I am the cash cow. They’re ain’t another pay-per-view draw like me in this division. I am the cash cow. It’s time to cash me out.”
Mitchell is 6-1 over his seven-fight UFC career and ready to make a run at 145-pound title contention.
“I’m ready — I’m begging them,” he said. “Please, please, give me a big fight. I’m begging them. I’m waiting. But, obviously, I don’t deserve none of that if I can’t beat Dan Ige. That’s going to be a hell of a competition between me and Ige. But, if I beat Ige, who’s to say I don’t deserve a top-five, a top-three, a top-two. Like I said, I’m the cash cow. They’re going to realize that. Once they do, they’re going to love me even more.”
Mitchell is a personality in the same mold as Sean Strickland. He says what he wants to say, no matter how crazy people may think he is for it. For example, “Thug Nasty” is a vocal advocate for the flat Earth conspiracy and has challenged Joe Rogan to a debate on the subject.
Sadly, Rogan “sissied out” because deep down he knows the truth (we think).
“The UFC, it gives me freedom,” Mitchell said. “I’m in here fighting for my freedom. You can’t be on no NFL team talking how I talk. You can’t be on no NBA team talking how I talk. UFC gives me freedom to be who I want to be. That’s what I love. That’s why I go in there ready to die. I can’t have no other job that gives me this freedom. That’s what I love, brother. I’m free.”
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 79 fight card right here, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, which are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET, then the remaining main card balance (also on ESPN+) at 7 p.m. ET.
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