Kamaru Usman suggests that Patchy Mix’s poor UFC debut against Mario Bautista was likely due to an excessive weight cut, affecting his performance, despite Mix’s potential and past success in Bellator.
Kamaru Usman has a theory about why Patchy Mix struggled in his first UFC fight. Mix, a former Bellator bantamweight champ, entered UFC 316 with a strong 20-1 record. But his debut didn’t go as planned. Mario Bautista out-struck him, leading to a clear decision loss.
Mix later explained his performance, noting he took the fight on short notice. Usman thinks there’s more to it. He believes Mix’s weight cut was the real issue. “Honestly, I think Patchy Mix cut too much weight,” Usman shared on his Pound 4 Pound podcast.
Usman noticed Mix wasn’t his usual self. “Everything was flat,” he said. Mix’s usual combinations were missing, while Bautista was versatile, targeting both body and head. Usman thinks the weight cut affected Mix’s performance.
Despite the setback, Mix has undeniable skills. Usman believes he can still reach the top of the division. But he stresses the importance of addressing the weight cut issue. Before joining the UFC, Mix was seen as the best bantamweight not signed to the promotion. His wins over top fighters like Kyoji Horiguchi and Sergio Pettis prove his talent.
However, his recent performances have raised questions about his contender status. Usman, who has known Mix for a while, sees potential but urges a reevaluation of his weight class strategy. “It might potentially have to be a lifestyle change,” he suggested.
Usman also praised Bautista, who has now won eight straight fights. Despite criticism for a grappling-heavy win over Jose Aldo, Bautista’s performance against Mix was dominant. Usman believes Bautista deserves more recognition.
With Mix’s previous championship buzz, Usman thinks it should now extend to Bautista. “He’s damn good,” Usman said. He even suggested a future matchup between Bautista and Sean O’Malley, highlighting Bautista’s strong case for a title shot.