UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell did not hold back when the conversation on Tim Welch’s podcast turned to modern jiu-jitsu, guard pulling, and Mikey Musumeci.
Throughout the discussion, Mitchell repeatedly argued that competitive grappling has moved away from what he believes is the core purpose of the sport: achieving dominant positions through wrestling.
The conversation began with guard pulling and butt scooting, with Mitchell arguing that the issue extends beyond tactics and reflects a shift in competitive jiu-jitsu.
“Well, it is getting gay when it gets to that level of extremity, you know, where these guys can’t wrestle,” Mitchell said. “They don’t have the desire to get dominant position. That’s a very manly desire. That’s a very masculine thing to do is I’m going to get on top. I’m going to assert myself as dominant.”
He questioned why anyone would willingly choose to compete from underneath.
“What do you mean you want to be on bottom? What do you mean you want another man to put you down and start in a bad spot.”
Although Mitchell criticized guard pulling as a competitive strategy, he made it clear that he still uses guard in mixed martial arts when circumstances call for it.
“I used it my last match,” he said. “Remember that guy took me down two times and what did I do? I pulled guard. I pulled guard and then I wrestled up.”
Mitchell explained that his goal is never to remain on his back but to use guard as a temporary defensive position before getting back on top.
“That’s right. The first thing I did though was get my guard because I do not want this guy inside mount on me. So I pull my guard and then I work to wrestle and I use those fundamentals.”
He contrasted that with competitors who voluntarily sit down to begin exchanges.
“It’s just an anti-gay strategy. A gay strategy would be go sit on your butt and wait for them to do something. No, if I get knocked on my butt, that’s when I use my jiu-jitsu. It’s there to protect you when you need it.”
Mitchell then expanded his criticism beyond individual competitors, arguing that the sport itself has promoted the wrong style by building stars around it.
“One negative side effect is that they’re going to do just like they do with MMA,” he said.
“They take one guy, hype him up, make him the face of something, and then make him to be the unbeatable superhero. And I believe that that’s exactly what they’ve done with jiu-jitsu. And I’m talking about no other than Mikey Musumeci.”
However, Mitchell made it clear that he respects the grappling star’s ability while strongly disliking the style he represents.
“He’s tremendous. Yes, I do think he’s the best at what he does. That’s great,” Mitchell said. Once again, he will not wrestle. He sits on his butt.”
Mitchell then explained why he has no interest in watching Musumeci compete.
“I will not watch that ever. And I mean ever. I don’t watch gay stuff. I don’t entertain it.”
“I’m not going to watch him lay on his back and do this and have another man crawl in there and then them not punch each other, just roll around like pigs in the mud.”
Rather than simply criticize the style, Mitchell said he wants the opportunity to test his own wrestling-heavy approach against Musumeci under submission grappling rules.
“And with that being said, I respect Musumeci and I would do a grappling match against him. I think I’m the only guy that will actually beat Musumeci at those rules.”
“I’ll beat him with heel hooks and any, I want to prove my grappling can beat that style.”
Mitchell later elaborated on why he wants to compete in submission grappling events.
“I do want to grapple. I want to go in there in that division that they’ve got. I don’t know who all is allowed to enter. And I want to grapple the guys because I’m tired of seeing people who don’t know how to stay in the guard in good position.”
“And I’ve been ankle locked before. I’m not saying I’m perfect, but I think I can avoid the ankle locks and win based off my positional control.”
