Having trained with Matt Mitrione before, Tyrell Fortune is very familiar with what he brings to the table.
Not only did Fortune (10-1 MMA, 10-1 BMMA) hit the mats with Mitrione, but he taught him wrestling in his short coaching stint at the Blackzilians, which now goes by Sanford MMA. Despite having to fight Mitrione (13-8 MMA, 4-3 BMMA) in Friday’s co-main event at Bellator 262, Fortune is ready to put their friendship aside for the night.
“We’re definitely friends,” Fortune told MMA Junkie. “I was the wrestling coach down at the Blackzilians like nine, 10 months between the transition between Kenny Monday and Greg Jones, and so most of the time that I was down there I was working with Matt. So we developed a good relationship and like he said, there’s no ill will here, but it’s just business. We gotta go out there and perform, and that’s our job, and definitely we’re gonna have a beer, talk, chat, and chill afterwards.”
It’s no secret what the former NCAA Division II national champion wrestler plans to do against Mitrione and although he’s been working on his all-around game, Fortune finds it hard not to go to his bread and butter.
“I’ll give you the strategy. I don’t think it matters because, like I said, we’re friends and he already knows me wrestling,” Fortune said. “I know his wrestling background isn’t like mine, so I have to use that. I’d be an idiot if I don’t. That’s my ace in the hole, so I think the one thing I’ve been working on outside of just evolving my wrestling game all around is the boxing and the pressure and being able to get into that pocket and execute. So definitely my first thing is just wrestling and attacking his cardio and getting in his face, putting that pressure on him.”
Tyrell Fortune has no ill will toward friend Matt Mitrione: ‘It’s just business’ at Bellator 262
