Former UFC champion Kamaru Usman suggested that Patchy Mix`s disappointing performance during his highly anticipated UFC debut at UFC 316 against Mario Bautista was significantly impacted by his weight cut.
Mix, who joined the UFC after a successful run as Bellator champion and was considered a major signing, fell short of expectations in his first Octagon appearance. UFC bantamweight contender Mario Bautista secured the win, ending Mix`s impressive seven-fight win streak and establishing himself as a notable fighter in the division. Mix`s performance was particularly perplexing as he relied primarily on striking, seemingly neglecting his elite grappling skills against Bautista.
While Mix`s goal was a quick climb up the UFC bantamweight rankings, his promotional debut proved to be a setback. However, according to former UFC champion Kamaru Usman, the issues for Mix began even before the fight, specifically during the official weigh-in.
Kamaru Usman Attributes Disastrous Debut to Difficult Weight Cut
During a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Kamaru Usman shared his analysis of what went wrong for Patchy Mix at UFC 316.
Usman stated, “Honestly, I think Patchy Mix cuts too much weight.”
“He looked like his body was not responding, that’s not the Patchy Mix that we’re used to seeing. Everything was flat. Patchy Mix threw one, real, punch. That was a right hook, and that was it. Head movement wasn’t there, and it was a right hook and right counter hook [the whole time]…”
Usman continued, “Patchy Mix has all the skills, a lot of skills, and I think he definitely can be at the top of this division. But I think we need to think about that weight cut, because it looked bad and I think it was that weight cut.”
Patchy Mix had not missed weight since Bellator 270. His previous success includes winning the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix with victories over notable opponents like Raufeon Stots, Magomed Magomedov, and Kyoji Horiguchi.
Despite the loss, Mix maintains a positive outlook and is preparing for his next fight later this year. He recently posted a message addressing critics following online backlash after his UFC debut performance.
Kamaru Usman Prepares for Welterweight Return at UFC Atlanta
Like Mix, Kamaru Usman is also looking for a strong performance in his upcoming fight. After watching the action at UFC 316, Usman is set for his own return to the welterweight division this Saturday at UFC Atlanta, headlining a card against Joaquin Buckley.
This will be Usman`s first fight back at 170 lbs since his consecutive losses to Leon Edwards. His most recent bout was a middleweight debut against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294, which he lost via majority decision on short notice.
Joaquin Buckley presents a significant challenge for Usman`s welterweight return. Buckley has been highly successful since transitioning full-time to the welterweight division, securing recent victories over fighters like Colby Covington, Stephen Thompson, and Vicente Luque.
