Despite losing his last outing inside the Octagon, it’s safe to assume Matt Mitrione’s career with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is secure, even if things don’t go his way against Travis Browne at this weekend’s (Sun., Jan. 17, 2016) UFC Fight Night 81 event in Boston, Massachusetts.
After all, “Meathead” has won three of four and always proves to be one of the most entertaining fighters in the heavyweight division.
Still, Mitrione says he isn’t putting a lot of pressure on himself going into his bout against “Hapa,” but does tells UFC.com the bout is “do or die” for him.
“This is do or die for me but I don’t feel any pressure whatsoever. My career with the UFC and different financial aspects are on the line, but I’ve put such a good camp in that my focus is right where it needs to be. Working with Henri [Hooft] and my training partners like Stefan Struve have really helped me work on some specific elements for this fight. I trained with four different fighters who are 6-foot-7 or taller for this camp who are all versatile and long-range strikers, grapplers and wrestlers. I don’t feel any anxiety about this situation at all. I have a good fight against a guy who is ranked pretty high in the world, and I think I’m pretty damn dangerous myself. I have a tremendous amount of power and I’m as athletic as you’re going to find in my division.”
Prior to his loss to Ben Rothwell, Matt was riding high with three straight first-round knockout wins over Shawn Jordan, Derrick Lewis and Gabriel Gonzaga.
Though “Big Ben” put a stop to his momentum, a win over Browne could pick it right back up. But “Meathead” says he isn’t paid to look ahead or wonder what a win will mean for him. All he’s worried about is putting hands on the big man standing across from him.
“I’m giving the most honest answer I can here in saying I don’t get paid to worry about s**t like that so it’s not really my concern. I go out there, put hands on Travis, put on a good show and let the world see what I’ve been working on. The only things I can control are my effort and my patience and I know I’ve done everything I can in regard to both. I’m excited to go out there and bring it like I always do.”
And you can bet Matt will do his best to avoid “stupid” mistakes like this one that will prevent him from getting back on the winning track in “Beantown.”
For more on UFC Fight Night 81, which features a bantamweight title fight between division champion T.J. Dillashaw taking on ex-titleholder Dominick Cruz — as well as Anthony Pettis challenging Eddie Alvarez in lightweight action — click here.