Bryce Mitchell believes UFC 284’s headliner between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski was fixed.
‘Thug Nasty’ is never afraid to share his views on practically every subject under the sun, no matter how controversial or ridiculous. That trend continued during a recent interview with James Lynch for Fanatics View on YouTube. The lightweight standout outright accused judges presiding over the February main event of taking “Middle Eastern money” to make sure the Dagestani destroyer walked out with his 155-pound title intact.
“That fight was rigged as f*ck dude, but you know, [Makhachev] brings in all that money from the Middle East,” Mitchell claimed. “When you’re bringing in that kind of oil money and all that Middle Eastern money bro. All the richest people in the world bro, they’re all from the Middle East. I guess they just f*cking paid the judges to, you know… I don’t know.
Asked by Lynch to confirm his belief that Alexander Volkanovski should have won the fight, Mitchell snapped back, saying:
“I know Alexander Volkanovski won the decision. I don’t think nothing. I know he won and I know that sh*t was rigged and I’m not f*cking stupid. You can’t tell me that sh*t wasn’t rigged. I’m not buying it. You can pay them judges whatever the f*ck you want to pay them. I know Alexander Volkanovski won that fight.”
Bryce Mitchell rode from LAX to Downtown Los Angeles on a bike
🎥: kofahi.shots/IG pic.twitter.com/yGW2wYvBH8
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) March 15, 2023
Bryce Mitchell is Excited to See Alexander Volkanovski vs. Yair Rodriguez Later This Year
Shifting gears, Bryce Mitchell discussed the impending UFC featherweight title unification bout that is expected to go down later this year.
As reigning 145-pound titleholder Alexander Volkanovski was focusing on his 25-minute war with Islam Makhachev, the promotion introduced an interim featherweight title in February. Mexico’s Yair Rodriguez captured the crown, besting Josh Emmett via a second-round submission via triangle choke at UFC 284, setting the stage for an epic showdown with ‘The Great.’
“I do think that Volk fights a little bit smarter,” Mitchell said while discussing the highly anticipated featherweight title fight. “I don’t think he’s as athletic or as fast and hits as hard and fast, but I think he fights very smart and he might get Yair tired. A little bit more tired in the later rounds and I think that’s how I think Volk could win that fight, but that’s a great fight. I’m excited about that one.”
No official announcement has been made, but Alexander Volkanovski vs. Yair Rodriguez is expected to go down at UFC 290 during International Fight Week this July.
