A million dollars and an interim title is on the line in the Bellator Bantamweight Grand Prix final at Bellator 295 this Saturday, where Patchy Mix goes up against Rafeon Stots.
What is not on the line is a spot among the best in the word — because Mix (17-1) believes he’s already reached that level.
“I train with these guys that are already ranked in the top five in the world. I’m already in that conversation,” Mix told Cageside Press in a recent exclusive interview. “I don’t need to go beat Raufeon Stots who, really, I don’t even know how legitimate he is. I don’t know how he’d do with those guys. But I train with Merab [Dvalishvili], I train with Aljamain [Sterling], I train with these other guys and I do very well. I know I’m one of the top fighters already, I don’t need validation from anybody on my record. I’m 17-1, next Saturday night, I’ll be 18-1 with just one more finish.”
Mix also believes there are other factors keeping him from being considered among the best, at least in the opinion of fans. For one, there’s where he’s fighting.
“Just because I finish Raufeon Stots, I think there will still be a barrier, for like the fans and their perspective. I think being in Bellator, you kind of get overlooked a lot,” Mix suggested. “I should be in that conversation already, granted, next Saturday night, I’m hoping I will be, even more talked about. But I still don’t even think that will do it. I think I’m going to have a lot more work ahead of me to do, and it’s not just going to be this one fight, it’ll take many fights to get the recognition of being the best in the world.”
“But in my brain already, what I already believe,” Mix continued, “is that I am the best in the weight class in the world.”
There’s been plenty of tape to scout opponents with throughout the grand prix, especially when it comes to Stots, who went five rounds last time out against Danny Sabatello. Patchy Mix, however, isn’t reading too much into that performance, or any other.
“It’s just a different fighter, a whole different fight. I don’t really compare that fight to me. I’m a whole different animal, I’m a whole different dog out there,” Mix exclaimed. “I’m just looking forward to how we compare against each other. How he believes he’ll compete against me. I’m going out there, I don’t care about any previous fights in the past, from him or I. It’s just a matter of, next Saturday night I’m coming to whup his ass the entire 25 minutes.”
The big news ahead of Bellator 295 in Hawaii wasn’t necessarily about that card, but one just two months later in Chicago. There, former lightweight and current featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull will move down to 135lbs, in search of a third title. He’ll face the returning Sergio Pettis — holder of Bellator’s bantamweight belt, and the man who most expected the winner of Stots vs. Mix to be facing.
“I just woke up, seen it, was happy for the guys. Congratulations for them,” Mix said regarding his reaction to that news. “Doesn’t change anything for me. This is my fight that I was lined up for.”
“I really don’t mind if Sergio fought— good on him, I think he needs to fight. I’ve fought three times since the tournament started, so has Stots. Now Sergio will get one in. It will be better for the division anyway. Whether Sergio wins or Patricio wins, I’m going against, after this fight, I’m punching my ticket to a super-fight against one of the pound-for-pound best. If Sergio beats the pound-for-pound number one, he’ll be up there, and Patricio is pound-for-pound number one. I’m going to get one of those guys next, so I’m excited for it.”
Watch our full interview with Bellator 295 headliner Patchy Mix above. The event takes place on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii.
