Bryce Mitchell is still open to fighting Dan Ige upon his return.
Mitchell (14-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) and Ige (15-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) have been on a collision course for a while now and have traded barbs in the past, but a fight between them never materialized.
Both featherweights have risen up the ranks in recent times, and being someone who seems willing to fight anyone, Mitchell is certainly interested in finally making the fight happen if the matchmakers come to him with Ige’s name.
“Absolutely,” Mitchell said in an interview with LowKick MMA. “I mean he called for it. He was the one wanting it, and his manager (Ali Abdelaziz) was talking crap on his behalf, so I’m fine with that. I’m really not picky, and anybody that they’ve ever asked me to (fight), I’ve never said no and to my knowledge that is – maybe, if somebody turned it down, it was my management turning down multiple options. When they asked me, I said yes, and then when they ask who I want to fight out of multiple options, I just tell them to pick, and I have no preference.”
Unbeaten in his pro MMA career, Mitchell hasn’t competed since defeating Andre Fili via unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 181 in October. He injured his hand in the fight, and though he’s healthy now, he won’t rush his comeback until he’s feeling 100 percent.
“It was broken in that Fili fight, but it’s doing a lot better,” Mitchell said. “I got my full grip strength back, and I’m just making sure I don’t punch anything too hard too soon. That would be re-break, and that’s why I’m waiting for a little while before I take another fight. But I’m in good shape, and I’ve been training, and I could fight right now if I had to.”
Bryce Mitchell gives update on return, says he’d ‘absolutely’ be willing to fight Dan Ige
