In the world of mixed martial arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu the crossover between UFC stardom and genuine mat dedication often reveals telling differences in character. According to 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu founder Eddie Bravo most high-profile UFC MMA stars become selective about their training partners once fame arrives but featherweight contender Bryce Mitchell stands as a notable exception.
Speaking on The Grapplers Perspective Podcast Podcast Bravo highlighted the stark contrast between Mitchell’s approach and that of typical UFC MMA stars.
“Not very many UFC fighters that I’ve known personally that I’ve known jumped in the rooms and just roll with the toughest guys. Very few people do that,”
Bravo explained.
The 10th Planet founder emphasized how Mitchell’s authenticity sets him apart in an environment where ego often dictates training choices.
“Once you become, you know, famous for fighting in the UFC, you know, you got you kind of have a target on your back and these blue belts want to, you know, they they want to tap you and say they tapped this famous fighter,”
Bravo noted explaining the pressure that leads many MMA stars to become selective.
Bravo drew parallels between Mitchell and another UFC superstar who shared this fearless approach.
“You know who did that? Conor McGregor. Conor McGregor came down to my gym and you would think that he was so famous that he would just be like, I’m not I’m not going to roll with, you know, I’m only going to roll with this guy or that guy. Conor McGregor rolled with everybody. He didn’t give a [ ].”
This willingness to engage with all skill levels demonstrates a rare combination of confidence and humility that Bravo clearly respects. The legendary instructor went on to praise Mitchell’s technical abilities stating,
“Same thing with Bryce Mitchell. Like I I respect that… Bryce Mitchell, he don’t give a [ ]. He comes to my gym and rolls with all my tough guys and he’s good, too. You know, Bryce Mitchell is no joke. He’s super legit on the ground.”
Mitchell’s approach reflects an old-school mentality that prioritizes improvement over image protection. While many MMA stars at his level might worry about potential embarrassment or injury from rolling with lower-ranked but hungry BJJ competitors Mitchell embraces these challenges as part of his continuous development.
After a turbulent few months marked by a photo editing controversy with Karate Combat and a narrow victory at UFC Abu Dhabi, Bryce Mitchell is returning to his grappling roots by signing up for Eddie Bravo Invitational 25. The Arkansas native, who withdrew from a grappling match against Ilay Barzilay citing concerns over photoshopping him on the poster, appears reinvigorated after dropping to bantamweight and defeating Said Nurmagomedov. EBI 25, set for September 12th in San Antonio, will feature a submission-only format where Mitchell faces elite grapplers like Gianni Grippo, Keith Krikorian, and Ethan Crelinsten.
