At the start of 2019, undefeated bantamweight [autotag]Patchy Mix[/autotag] wasn’t even on the Bellator roster, but after a nearly flawless year, he says he’s ready for a title shot.
“I feel like I should be in that discussion,” Mix told MMA Junkie. “I feel like the real, true fans and true people that know this sport, I think I am the discussion, the guy that’s the most deserving, the track record that’s better than anyone else’s on the roster if you look at what they’ve done in Bellator.
“I’m 3-0 in Bellator – three first-round finishes and pure domination.”
Mix (12-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) was fighting under the King of the Cage banner when the year began, but the hype was certainly starting to build behind him. After an undefeated amateur career, Mix starting finishing fighters at an alarming rate in the professional ranks, as well. He says the work on the mats at New Mexico’s famed Jackson Wink MMA let him know he was capable of competing with anyone in the world.
“When I went pro and then I went to Jackson’s and was competing, all these guys were cross-training, these big names – and even guys in my division right now that they’re the biggest names – I went and trained with those guys,” Mix said. “How I did, my success with them back then, I knew then and there that I had to do this. I had to make the money these guys were making, and I had to be a world-class fighter that get paid as such.”
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Mix debuted for Bellator this past June, and rather than get any kind of slow play into the promotion, he was immediately matched up with another highly touted prospect, Ricky Bandejas, the man known for knocking out James Gallagher.
Mix submitted Bandejas in just over a minute.
Since then, Mix has already added two more first-round stoppages to his record, submitting Isaiah Chapman at this past October’s Bellator 232 and then traveling to Japan to submit Yuki Motoya at Rizin FF 20, which featured a co-promotion with Bellator.
Mix believes that deserves him a spot at the top of the division.
“Patchy Mix does not take no slow road,” Mix said. “Look at who I fought in my first three fights in Bellator. Granted Dominic Mazzotta pulled out. He just went running from the fight. But they threw me in there against Ricky Bandejas. That guy is supposed to be a killer. He was in contendership. He knocked out Gallagher quickly. I went in there and put him away in 60 seconds.
“I didn’t want no easy fights. I didn’t want to be built. I wanted to prove that I’m the best in the world right now, and that’s what I’ve been doing. I haven’t taken a punch. Three fights, three first-round finishes, and just finished a guy in Yuki Motoya who hasn’t been finished since 2011. I’m out there to take out the names, and I’m a contender right now – the title contender right now.”
Bellator’s bantamweight title is currently vacant, with former title holder Kyoji Horiguchi relinquishing the belt after being forced to go under the knife to repair his knee. Mix said he’s not concerned if he’s fighting for a vacant belt or against an established champion, he simply believes that it’s his time to shine.
“I have en extensive winning streak, and I’m a finisher,” Mix said. “I haven’t went to a decision in almost two-and-a-half years or something crazy like that. I’m here to put people away, and I think that puts a fanbase behind me. I just need the ability to showcase who I am, and if I do that, I’m going to put people away and prove who I am.
“In 2020, I want the world title, whether it’s vacant or whatever. That’s my goal. Nothing less.”
Considering the strides forward he made in 2019, working to the title in 2020 might not be a terribly unrealistic goal. His career record is impressive, and his ability to finish fights does make him an appealing commodity. So line them up, Mix says, and he’ll knock them down.
“I want names,” Mix said. “These ’45-pounders coming down, these guys coming over from the UFC, I need names. I need to add some more to my resume. I’m here to fight the best guys. I believe I’m the best guy in the world.”