BRYCE MITCHELL CLAIMS FLU SAPPED HIS CARDIO IN FIGHT AGAINST ILIA TOPURIA

Timothy James

March 18, 2023

Bryce “Thug Nasty” Mitchell shared a message to his Twitter – blaming the flu on his poor performance against Ilia Topuria.

“Thug Nasty” needed to let his fans know that he was compromised heading into the fight – saying he was battling the flu in addition to Ilia Topuria inside the Octagon. “That really wasn’t me out there,” Mitchell stated in a video posted to his Twitter. “I had the flu the week before and I thought I’d just tough it out.”

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Ilia Topuria caught Mitchel in a head-and-arm triangle choke in the second round after piecing him apart on the feet. However, Mitchell says his illness sapped him of his cardio and that he regrets taking the fight at all.

“I didn’t feel good at all in there,” Mitchell continued. “That wasn’t myself … I wish I wouldn’t [have] even took the fight, but I didn’t know it would mess me up that bad … [my cardio] wasn’t even there one bit of the time.”

It was Mitchell’s first loss in the UFC (excluding an exhibition loss to Brad Katona on The Ultimate Fighter Season 27). He was ranked 9th in the featherweight division before the bout; Topuria, who remains undefeated, was ranked 14th.

Despite the setback, “Thug Nasty” promises fans that he’ll be back better than before.

“I’ll be back stronger,” Mitchell said. “I just hate going out … like that. But I will be better. I’ll be alright. Thank y’all!”