Patchy Mix struggled in his UFC debut, losing to Mario Bautista, with Matt Brown attributing the loss to the higher level of competition in the UFC compared to other promotions, rather than jitters from the spotlight.
Patchy Mix had a tough debut at UFC 316, taking a beating from Mario Bautista. He absorbed 173 strikes, ending in a unanimous decision loss. Ouch.
After the fight, people wondered if Mix just couldn’t handle the UFC’s pressure. He took the fight on short notice after joining from the PFL and promised to come back stronger.
Matt Brown, however, thinks it’s more about the competition level. Beating top fighters in PFL or Bellator doesn’t match what the UFC offers.
"The UFC just has the best fighters in the world," Brown said on The Fighter vs. The Writer. It’s not just the lights and media; it’s the skill gap.
Brown argues that UFC’s number 15 fighter could be a champ elsewhere. It’s a different beast, controlling the sport with the best talent.
Mix’s struggles echoed those of Patricio Pitbull, another former champ facing UFC’s harsh reality. It’s a wake-up call.
Brown sees potential in fighters like Aaron Pico, who’s yet to debut. He’s still growing, unlike Mix and Pitbull, who were already champions.
"The UFC’s just a different f*cking animal," Brown said. It’s filled with fighters ready to devour their opponents’ souls.
Despite PFL’s claims as a "co-leader," Brown isn’t convinced. To him, other promotions are like minor leagues compared to UFC’s majors.
"What you do outside the UFC just doesn’t mean jack shit," Brown said. It’s like college football vs. the NFL.
For Brown, the real challenge comes from outside the cage. He felt it himself after joining the UFC from The Ultimate Fighter.
Suddenly, everyone knows you. More cousins, more attention. It can mess with your head if you’re not prepared.
Brown believes these external pressures matter more than "octagon jitters." Once inside the cage, it’s just fighting.
Not everyone is cut out for it. Mix, already a respected fighter, faced a new world where perceptions changed.
Brown recalls fighting in odd places, from gas station parking lots to rec centers. The cage is the same; it’s everything else that’s different.
When the UFC lights come on, it’s still a fight. But the journey there? That’s what changes everything.
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