Bryce Mitchell Awaits an Opportunity to Avenge His Loss to Ilia Topuria

Ahead of his high-profile assignment at UFC 296, Bryce Mitchell is still haunted by his lone career loss.

Mitchell (16-1), who takes on longtime featherweight contender Josh Emmett in the top prelim bout this Saturday in Las Vegas, suffered his first and thus far only professional defeat just over a year ago, when he faced Ilia Topuria at UFC 282. The Georgian by way of Spain dominated Mitchell on the way to a second-round submission win. “Thug Nasty” not only believes he could have put on a better showing but that it was the worst performance of his career.

“I want that one all day, because that was my worst performance of all time,” the 29-year-old recently told Michael Bisping.. “Even my backyard fights, I’ve never had a fight that bad. I’ve never fought that bad, I’ve never folded like that, I’ve never been able to not breathe and not move like that and, man, it just makes me mad. I know I could do better, but I don’t think people realize how much better I could do than that.”

In the immediate aftermath of his loss to Topuria, Mitchell said he was sick with the flu, a statement which was widely labeled an excuse. Asked about the reaction to his comments, Mitchell said:

“It gives me that fuel, and I feel like I’ve been living a righteous life, and I’ve been working, and I deserve to perform better than I did that night. I feel I’m going to get to vindicate myself.”

Topuria is scheduled to challenge Alexander Volkanovski for the title at UFC 298 on Feb. 17. Meanwhile, Mitchell bounced back from his loss with a decision win over Dan Ige in September. Mitchell has now stepped up on 10 days’ notice to take on Emmett at UFC 296, replacing Giga Chikadze, who withdrew due to an injury.

UFC 296 will feature two title fights with Colby Covington taking on reigning champion Leon Edwards for the welterweight title while flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja faces former foe Brandon Royval in the co-main event.