Bryce Mitchell's only MMA loss: Who did UFC featherweight 'Thug Nasty' lose to?

Bryce Mitchell has a near-perfect MMA record. The UFC featherweight's first professional defeat came at the hands of Ilia Topuria at the UFC 282 PPV event that took place in December 2022.

Mitchell also lost to Brad Katona during The Ultimate Fighter Season 27 semifinals in early 2018. The Arkansas native was submitted by his opponent via rear-naked choke in the third round. However, the loss is not reflected in his professional MMA record as the fight is considered an exhibition and it was a part of the TUF reality show.

Coming off a dominant unanimous decision victory over UFC veteran Edson Barboza in March 2022, Bryce Mitchell attempted to surge into the top echelons of the featherweight division with a win over the undefeated Ilia Topuria.

While Topuria was positioned five spots below Mitchell at No.14, he was a highly touted prospect who was returning from a brief but successful stint at lightweight. The clash between these undefeated featherweights was going to be an important affair for the future of the division.

Topuria denied takedowns to Bryce Mitchell and outclassed him in the striking department. He hurt the 28-year-old multiple times throughout the fight which opened the doors of the grappling realm. The Spaniard finished 'Thug Nasty' via an arm triangle choke in the second round, taking away the '0' from his loss column.

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Bryce Mitchell later revealed that he was unwell at the time of the Ilia Topuria fight

The first professional loss, especially if it comes after a substantial amount of experience, is usually a tough pill to swallow for a fighter. Bryce Mitchell felt angry at himself for taking the Ilia Topuria fight in spite of being unwell. While speaking to James Lynch a few days after the loss, Mitchell stated:

"Just a lot of anger, a lot of resentment, a lot of hatred, a lot of guilt, a lot of desire to get in there and just f**k s**t up because I'm really just mad at life right now... I was just really sick. I shouldn't have took the fight, but I can't do anything about it. It just pisses me off, the whole thing does, so if anything it just pissed me off to a whole new level."

He added:

"You can't really get to the level of anger I'm at without getting your a** beat. You get your a** beat, you get to a whole new level of anger, a whole new level of pissed off, a whole new level of motivation. They say the sport has highs and lows. Well, the low, it's very low and you can't get that low in everyday life. If you get your a** beat one time, you'll be so mad, it'll change your life for months to come."

Watch Bryce Mitchell express his thoughts below:

Bryce Mitchell will have the opportunity to correct all the mistakes on the main card of UFC Fight Night 228 which takes place on September 23, 2023. He will attempt to register a statement win over an experienced and dangerous Dan Ige.