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Bellator champion chronicles 'surreal' feeling after UFC signing

"No Love" is finally in the UFC despite it not fully sinking in.

Zain Bando

(Bellator MMA/PFL)

Patchy Mix did it.

After months of patience, the UFC finally came calling. For the 31-year-old, it's truly a dream come true. Mix spent nearly five years in Bellator, where he got his hand raised in 9 of 10 fights and won and defended the promotion's bantamweight belt.

"It sounds [like I'm] just where I belong," Mix told reporters following UFC Vegas 106 Saturday. "So many years. So many fights, as a matter of fact. To finally be here is surreal."

Bellator was absorbed into the PFL at the end of last year, fully beginning its new era with the current season. Mix was scheduled to fight Leandro Higo at a would-be Bellator event in Chicago, IL last year, but the event was scrapped, as was his title defense.

READ MORE: Michael Morales demolishes former title challenger Gilbert Burns at UFC Vegas 106

Patchy Mix Discusses Rough Bellator Exit

"Everyone knew what I'd do to [beat] Leandro Higo," Mix said. "I just wanted to earn some money and stuff and stay active and keep getting better, keep growing. When that fight got pulled, I didn't know when I'd fight."

Patchy Mix during his time with Bellator.
Patchy Mix during his time with Bellator. / PFL

Now he knows. The UFC announced his debut during the UFC Vegas 106 broadcast, as he'll take on Mario Bautista at UFC 316 on June 7. A win there, and the sky's the limit for the 20-1 sensation.

"I'm not afraid of anyone in this division, especially [not] Mario Bautista," Mix said. "He's on a seven-fight win streak and I want that seven-fight win streak. When they called me, I answered it. I'll make weight and I'll get the job done."

Mix said signing a UFC deal was almost instantaneous from the time he was officially released from the PFL.

READ MORE: UFC GOAT makes retirement official with final statement

Patchy Mix Shares How Mario Bautista Fight Came To Be

"It happened to be him and I think 'Chito' Vera popped his rib or something," Mix said about the situation. "They called me within an hour or two. I was like, 'Hell yeah.' Within a day, I think it was getting made."

Jose Aldo (red gloves) fights Mario Bautista (blue gloves) during UFC 307 at Delta Center.
Jose Aldo (red gloves) fights Mario Bautista (blue gloves) during UFC 307 at Delta Center. / Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Mix's signing adds new star power to the lighter weight divisions. Whether he can capitalize on winning a UFC title within the next few years remains to be seen.

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Zain Bando
ZAIN BANDO

Zain Bando is a writer for MMA Knockout, part of the Sports Illustrated/Minute Media umbrella. He has covered combat sports since 2019 for notable outlets BJPenn.com and FanSided MMA. He also co-hosts a podcast called "The MMA Outsiders," part of the Empty The Bench Podcast Network, which airs Tuesday nights at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT. A Chicago suburban native, Bando has been enthralled with MMA since 2006 and has been fortunate to attend some of the most high-profile events in the sport's history, both as a fan and media member, including UFC 264, Bellator 297 and Kayla Harrison's PFL MMA debut. He is excited to take the next step in his combat sports writing journey and looks forward to continuing his following of the fight game for years to come. Bando can be reached via email at zainbando99@gmail.com or by social media @zainbando99

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