Bryce Mitchell won his first UFC fight at bantamweight against Said Nurmagomedov at UFC Abu Dhabi. The prelim fight took place at Etihad Arena on July 26, 2025. Mitchell got knocked down early but fought back to win by decision. The event aired on ESPN and ABC, with prelims at 12 p.m. ET and the main card at 3 p.m. ET.
Mitchell’s Rally Secures Victory
Mitchell faced Nurmagomedov in a 135-pound bout on the prelim card. In the first round, Nurmagomedov landed a big knee, dropping Mitchell hard. Mitchell survived, using his guard to recover. He pushed forward in the second round, landing punches and wrestling from the clinch. By the third round, Mitchell controlled the fight with takedowns and ground work, outlasting Nurmagomedov.
The unanimous decision win marked Mitchell’s debut at bantamweight after moving down from featherweight. Nurmagomedov, a betting favorite, couldn’t keep up his early pace. Mitchell’s comeback showed his heart and wrestling skill in a tough test.
HOW DID HE GET OUT?! 🤯
This fight is living up to the hype!
[ UFC Abu Dhabi | In Abu Dhabi | @InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/SlZEGDHDXR
— UFC (@ufc) July 26, 2025
Winner at bantamweight ✅@ThugNastyMMA takes the Unanimous Decision at #UFCAbuDhabi!
[ #InAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi ] pic.twitter.com/y2iL926nSj
— UFC (@ufc) July 26, 2025
Bryce Mitchell, a 30-year-old from Arkansas, has an 18-3 MMA record. He started wrestling at age five and later earned a jiu-jitsu black belt. Mitchell debuted in MMA in 2015, going 9-0 in regional promotions like WSOF. He joined the UFC in 2018 via The Ultimate Fighter, winning his debut against Tyler Diamond by decision. At featherweight, Mitchell went 6-3, beating fighters like Andre Fili and Edson Barboza but losing to Ilia Topuria and Jean Silva. His loss to Silva at UFC 314 in April 2025, where he felt outsized, led to his bantamweight move. Mitchell, nicknamed “Thug Nasty,” is unranked at bantamweight.
Said Nurmagomedov, a 33-year-old from Russia, has a 17-4 MMA record. He began training sambo and kickboxing as a teen. Nurmagomedov debuted in MMA in 2011, going 10-1 in promotions like ACB. He joined the UFC in 2018, starting 5-1 at bantamweight with wins over Ricardo Ramos and Mark Striegl. Since 2021, Nurmagomedov went 2-2, losing to Jonathan Martinez and Kyler Phillips. Known for flashy strikes, Nurmagomedov, unranked at bantamweight, couldn’t finish Mitchell after a strong start.
Mitchell could face a ranked bantamweight like Ricky Simon next. Nurmagomedov might fight a lower-ranked opponent to rebound. Mitchell’s debut keeps him relevant in a new division.
