Patchy Mix has landed himself in the Bellator bantamweight grand prix, with a second chance to win a title in the promotion following Bellator 289 on Friday.
Mix (17-1) choked out Magomed Magomedov in the second round of their semi-final fight, becoming the first man to finish “Tiger” in the process.
“I choked out, maybe I was 10-0 as an amateur, I was fighting in California, I choked someone with that same prayer choke,” Mix recalled following the fight. “I was just trying to be patient. It’s surreal right now. It’s crazy, man. What a ride.”
That said, Mix was not surprised he could get the job done on the ground. In fact, he’s exuding confidence when it comes to his submission game, and for good reason.
“I’ve got a mean guillotine, and I choke choke anyone in the world out with it. Normally in the practice room, they have to tap, but in a fight, they’re reluctant to tap. Any time someone taps, I could basically strangle them out unconscious.”
Mix believed, after watching Magomedov’s fight with Enrique Barzola, that the Russian was susceptible to the choke. “I felt like he has the warrior spirit. Magomed has the true warrior code. I knew I wasn’t going to get him unless I put him out. I knew I had to put him out.”
“He showed his true heart, and he went unconscious,” added Mix.
Moving forward, Mix, as he has said for the past several days, believes he’s the favorite in the Bantamweight Grand Prix.
“I’ve been telling everyone all f*cking weekend, I’m the favorite to win this tournament,” Mix exclaimed. “Now what? Now we’re gonna be talking. I’m the favorite. Want to know why? See those two guys in the finale? I could submit them too.”
“Those two guys” refers to Raufeon Stots and Danny Sabatello. With Stots coming away with the win, Mix will get his chance to beat the interim champ sometime in the first half of 2023.
Watch the full Bellator 289 post-fight press conference with Patchy Mix above.
