Bryce Mitchell says he can relate to Ilia Topuria’s first professional MMA defeat

UFC star Bryce Mitchell has explained why he can relate to Ilia Topuria’s first professional mixed martial arts defeat.

As we know, Ilia Topuria now has a ‘one’ in his loss column in mixed martial arts after suffering a defeat to Justin Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250. He looked good during parts of the fight but ultimately, he fell short of the mark and wasn’t able to retain the UFC lightweight championship.

RELATED: Ilia Topuria was ‘fighting blind’ after first round against Justin Gaethje, claims Merab Dvalishvili

Someone who knows a thing or two about losing their undefeated record in mixed martial arts is Bryce Mitchell, who was beaten for the first time in the cage by none other than Topuria himself.

In a recent interview, Mitchell gave his thoughts on Topuria’s loss and where he should go from here.

Mitchell talks about Topuria’s first loss

“I’m relating it to Ilia – that was me when I fought Ilia,” Mitchell said on Tim Welch’s podcast. “I had too much pride to back out of the fight, to say, ‘Hey, I’m sick. I shouldn’t be in here.’ I was undefeated at that point, and so it was that pride thinking, ‘Nah, this dude ain’t going to beat me. I’m fine.’

“Second round, I knew I was toast. In the first round, I felt all right. But by the end of the first round, beginning of the second round, I knew I was toast, and that’s when my pride made me fall. His pride made him fall when he thinks Justin Gaethje can’t hurt him.”

“I think he would do better at 145, to be honest,” Mitchell said of Topuria. “But I think he could easily stay at 155. You see he damn near beat Gaethje, and Gaethje’s the best out there. I really think spiritually is what’s going to determine whether he’s going to come back or not. He’s got all the tangibles and he’s got the mentality. He’s not a quitter.”

Quotes via MMA Junkie

Do you agree with Bryce Mitchell? Let us know in the comments below, BJPENN Nation!