Patchy Mix is set to make his long-awaited Octagon debut at UFC 316.
MMA’s leading promotion is back in Newark, New Jersey to stage the UFC 316 pay-per-view from inside the Prudential Center.
The main event will be a rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley for the former’s bantamweight title.
But while all eyes will be on that and the women’s bantamweight title fight between Julianna Pena and Kayla Harrison, those aren’t the only intriguing storylines at 135 pounds.
Also set for the main card is the UFC debut of Mix, a former Bellator champion who joined the UFC following a dispute with the PFL that eventually led to his release.
The 31-year-old is highly regarded by many in the game and widely tipped for a quick rise to the top. To ensure that, a former champion thinks he’d be best served avoiding one name in the division.
Henry Cejudo only sees Umar Nurmagomedov giving Patchy Mix trouble in the UFC
Former UFC champions Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo previewed the UFC 316 card during a recent episode of their Pound 4 Pound podcast.
Saturday’s event will be of keen interest to Cejudo, given the key battles set to play out in the division in which he competes and formerly ruled over.
On the topic of Mix, ‘Triple C’ became the latest to predict a UFC title crowning in his future. In fact, the former champ doesn’t see either the reigning bantamweight king or his next challenger stopping the newcomer.
But when it comes to another name in the top five, Cejudo isn’t as sure.
“Patchy Mix, [he] has fought the best in Bellator, bro,” Cejudo said. “He’s beaten people that have really surprised me. I didn’t think he was going to beat Kyoji Horiguchi. Not only did he beat him, but he actually freakin’ dominated him.
“I mean, bro, this dude, he is a problem. I do believe he’s a couple fights away from fighting for the championship, and I do feel like Patchy Mix is a future champion.
“I think the only one that I can potentially see giving Patchy a problem is Umar Nurmagomedov,” Cejudo added.
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Patchy Mix has a preference for the UFC 316 main event
Should he make good on his promise to quickly surge toward the top of the UFC bantamweight division, Mix has a somewhat surprising preference for who he’d like to challenge for the title.
During a press conference backstage at UFC Vegas 106 following confirmation of his signing, Mix revealed he’s rooting for Dvalishvili over O’Malley.
Despite his strong relationship and training history with ‘The Machine’, the UFC newcomer hopes to challenge the Georgian fighter down the line so they can “make some money” together.
“Me and Merab have trained for years together, and I respect him,” Mix said.
“I really do hope Merab wins against O’Malley. I’d like down the line for us to make some money together, you know, and just duke it out for that title as I get closer to it.”
Before looking ahead to potentially adding UFC gold to his trophy cabinet, Mix must first get past the hurdle of Mario Bautista on June 7.