Patchy Mix experienced a tough introduction to the octagon at UFC 316. In his debut fight against Mario Bautista, Mix absorbed a significant amount of damage, taking 173 strikes, which left him cut and bleeding before ultimately losing by unanimous decision.
Following the defeat, questions arose about whether Mix struggled under the bright lights and pressure often associated with a UFC debut. Mix himself commented post-fight that he accepted the bout on short notice after signing with the UFC as a free agent from PFL, promising to improve for his next outing.
However, UFC veteran Matt Brown doesn`t believe the spotlight was the primary issue for Mix. Instead, Brown suggests Mix simply realized that being a top fighter or champion in promotions like PFL or Bellator doesn`t adequately prepare one for the level of competition found in the UFC.
“I`ll tell you what, the UFC just has the best fighters in the world,” Brown stated on the latest episode of *The Fighter vs. The Writer*. “I think these few fights that we talk about where these guys are coming as champions from other [promotions] and everybody thinks they’re so good, I think it just shows the level of disparity of competition in the UFC.”
“Maybe the lights and the media and all that kind of stuff play a role in it, but I think it just shows the disparity. The number 15 guy [in the UFC] could be champion in any other promotion that he went to. It`s just an extreme difference between the UFC and everybody else. They have control of this sport, of all the best fighters and I think that’s all there is to it. We`ve seen it a million times.”
Mix`s difficult debut followed a similar experience just weeks prior when former Bellator featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull also faced significant challenges in his first UFC fight against Yair Rodriguez.
Brown believes the situation is different for rising prospects entering the UFC, citing someone like Aaron Pico, who he expects to perform well because he`s still developing towards his peak potential in the sport.
Conversely, Mix and Pitbull were established champions elsewhere. Yet, both discovered that achieving the highest level outside the UFC isn`t the same as reaching the top within it.
“The UFC`s just a different f*cking animal,” Brown declared. “There`s bloodthirsty lions in there that just want to eat your soul. It`s just a different level of competition.”
While promotions like the PFL promote themselves as “co-leaders” in the MMA landscape, Brown disputes this claim when comparing their top talent to the UFC roster.
Brown feels that, in many respects, all other fight organizations function like the minor leagues, with the UFC representing the major leagues.
“The UFC just has the best fighters, bar none,” Brown asserted. “What you do outside the UFC just doesn’t mean jack sh*t anymore, other than to get you to the UFC.”
“Like college football — would the National Champion team beat the worst NFL team? It`s the same thing. The UFC is the NFL. When they come to the UFC, it’s just a different f*cking animal. They’re not used to that level of competition.”
Regarding the discussion about nerves or fading under a brighter spotlight in the UFC, Brown argues that the significant differences fighters feel often stem from factors outside the cage.
He drew on his own experience after joining the UFC following his appearance on Season 6 of *The Ultimate Fighter* reality show, noting the shift in how fighters are perceived.
“I think what a lot of people don`t recognize or don`t really think about is when you get into the UFC, at least in my situation and I’m sure that others can relate, you suddenly have about 20 more cousins than you had the year before,” Brown explained. “Now you`re looked at differently when you walk into a restaurant. People see who you are. They know who you are.
“Those are the kinds of things that can either get to your head or you can handle it more stoically or properly. I think these kinds of side issues is more of a factor than like doing an extra media day. Even though media stuff, that can get to your head. You’re like ‘they all want to f*cking talk to me!’ Again, when you’re talking about these guys that aren’t used to that kind of stuff, it can easily get to your head.”
When it comes to the fight itself, Brown feels the experience wasn`t fundamentally different from his early career bouts compared to the 15 years he competed in the UFC.
While the pressure might increase in high-stakes situations, Brown stated that once the punches start flying, he always settled back into his familiar world inside the cage. This is why he doesn`t fully accept “octagon jitters” as the primary explanation for Mix`s performance.
“I don`t think everybody is made for that, especially you’ve got to think of the complexities of you’ve already been a fighter for so long like a Patchy Mix,” Brown elaborated. “Kind of already a legend in your own right. High level, very good. Now all of a sudden people are looking at you differently. People are talking to you differently. Now people are treating you differently. I think those little things can play a bigger role than having an extra media day or f*cking the lights are a little brighter.
“Realistically, when you get into the octagon, I fought in gas station parking lots before, I fought in a cage once it was built with like dog kennel fencing, it had the bar across the middle, and they had that show in a rec center in the f*cking middle of nowhere, and I fought for a four-wheeler. That was my prize if I won. It’s still the f*cking same. When you fight in the UFC and the lights come on, it’s still the same. It’s all that sh*t leading up to it and all the sh*t outside of it that’s different. The UFC, I swear to god when the bell rings and the referee says go, it’s the same f*cking thing but you made it something different.”
