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UFC Fight Night: Bryce Mitchell vs Said Nurmagomedov Preview & Prediction

by Dan Ahmad · July 25 2025, 12:47
Updated July 25 2025, 14:43
UFC Fight Night: Bryce Mitchell vs Said Nurmagomedov Preview & Prediction

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Bryce Mitchell vs Said Nurmagomedov: Grappling ace drops to bantamweight for pivotal clash

A fascinating stylistic match-up unfolds as Arkansas native Bryce Mitchell makes his UFC bantamweight debut against crafty Dagestani striker Said Nurmagomedov. Both men are looking to bounce back from recent losses and reassert themselves in a crowded division.

Bryce Mitchell vs Said Nurmagomedov facts

What time are Bryce Mitchell and Said Nurmagomedov expected to walk out?

Where is UFC on ABC 9: Whittaker vs de Ridder? Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Where can I get tickets for UFC on ABC 9: Whittaker vs de Ridder? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC on ABC 9

What TV channel is UFC on ABC 9 on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+ (undercard) & ABC (main card)

Where can I stream UFC on ABC 9? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass

UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs de Ridder main card

Robert Whittaker vs Reinier de Ridder (Middleweight)

Petr Yan vs Marcus McGhee (Bantamweight)

Sharabutdin Magomedov vs Marc-Andre Barriault (Middleweight)

Asu Almabayev vs Jose Ochoa (Flyweight)

Nikita Krylov vs Bogdan Guskov (Light Heavyweight)

UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs de Ridder prelims

Bryce Mitchell vs Said Nurmagomedov (Bantamweight)

Muslim Salikhov vs Carlos Leal Miranda (Welterweight)

Davey Grant vs Da'Mon Blackshear (Bantamweight)

Amanda Ribas vs Tabatha Ricci (Women’s Strawweight)

Ibo Aslan vs Billy Elekana (Light Heavyweight)

Mohammad Yahya vs Steven Nguyen (Featherweight)

Martin Buday vs Marcus Buchecha (Heavyweight)

Bryce Mitchell: Control wrestler hoping to reset at 135lbs
Bryce Mitchell (17-3) burst onto the UFC scene with a blend of unorthodox striking, elite grappling, and strong wrestling pressure — earning the nickname ‘Thug Nasty’. After a solid regional run and an eye-catching stint on The Ultimate Fighter, Mitchell opened his UFC career with five straight wins, including a rare twister submission against Matt Sayles and an impressive victory over veteran Edson Barboza.

Since then, however, things have been more turbulent. Mitchell suffered a submission loss to Ilia Topuria in a battle of unbeaten prospects, then bounced back with a gritty decision win over Dan Ige. That was followed by a knockout defeat to Josh Emmett and, most recently, a submission loss to Jean Silva. Now moving down to bantamweight — where he has competed only once before in his debut — Mitchell is hoping a change in weight class can reignite his form. His game is built around strong top control, underrated volume striking, and relentless pressure — all backed by what he calls “farmer strength”.

Said Nurmagomedov: Slick striker with submissions in his back pocket
Said Nurmagomedov (18-4) owns a solid 7-3 record in the UFC and is known for his dynamic striking and crafty submissions. Despite sharing a surname with Khabib, he’s not part of the same famed Dagestani camp, and his style reflects that — favouring flashy kicks, spinning attacks, and opportunistic grappling over heavy wrestling.

He owns notable wins over Ricardo Ramos and Saidyokub Kakhramonov, but is coming off a close decision loss to surging contender Vinicius Oliveira. The 33-year-old has never been finished, but his gas tank has come into question after his recent outing against Lok Dog, where he looked completely fatigued in the final round.

Bryce Mitchell vs Said Nurmagomedov prediction
This is a tightly contested match-up, but Mitchell’s strength of schedule stands out. His only UFC losses have come against elite names — including current pound-for-pound #1 Ilia Topuria, knockout artist Josh Emmett, and rising contender Jean Silva. Nurmagomedov is talented, but doesn’t pose the same level of threat in terms of power or finishing ability as those who have beaten Thug Nasty.

At age 30, Mitchell is dropping to bantamweight for the first time in years, and while that introduces some uncertainty — as seen in past struggles with weight cuts (e.g. Garbrandt vs Kara-France or Hooker vs Allen) — he appears confident.

If Mitchell can implement his wrestling and avoid big moments on the feet, he should be able to grind out a hard-fought win with control and pressure.

Prediction: Bryce Mitchell to win by decision

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