Bryce Mitchell

Bryce “Thug Nasty” Mitchell is an Arkansas born UFC Bantamweight fighter and one of the most accomplished grapplers in the promotion’s history. Known for his unconventional path to the sport and his elite ground game, Mitchell has built a career defined by submission artistry and relentless grappling pressure.

Early Life in Arkansas

Bryce Andrew Mitchell was born on October 4, 1994 in Texarkana, Arkansas, and was raised in Cabot, Arkansas, where he attended Cabot High School. He competed in multiple sports growing up, including basketball and wrestling, placing second at the state championships as a junior and fourth as a senior. Mitchell has spoken about starting his combat sports journey informally, learning to fight through backyard contests with neighbours before that interest developed into formal training.

After high school, Mitchell moved to Searcy, Arkansas to attend Harding University, where he later completed a bachelor’s degree in economics while simultaneously building his professional MMA career, a balance that became part of his public image alongside his ties to farming and rural Arkansas life.

Rise Through the Ranks

Mitchell built an undefeated amateur and early professional record before being selected to compete on The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated. He defeated Jay Cucciniello in the quarterfinals before losing to eventual season winner Brad Katona in the semifinals, a result that nonetheless earned him a spot on the UFC roster.

His UFC career began in July 2018, and he quickly built a reputation as one of the most dangerous grapplers in the featherweight division. In December 2019, Mitchell delivered one of the signature moments of his career, submitting Matt Sayles via twister in the first round, becoming only the second fighter in UFC history to win by this rare technique. The performance earned him a Performance of the Night bonus and was named the 2019 Submission of the Year by multiple major MMA outlets.

Career Defining Moments

Mitchell went on to compile a string of notable victories, including unanimous decision wins over Charles Rosa, Andre Fili, Edson Barboza and Dan Ige. In December 2022, he challenged future UFC champion Ilia Topuria, suffering his first UFC loss via second round submission, a result that looked considerably more respectable as Topuria went on to become a two division UFC champion. Mitchell rebounded with a third round knockout of Kron Gracie in December 2024.

Following a setback against Jean Silva in April 2025, Mitchell made the decision to drop to bantamweight, a move that has reinvigorated his career. He defeated Said Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision in his bantamweight debut in July 2025, then followed it up with an arm triangle submission victory over Santiago Luna in June 2026, extending his winning run in the new division to two straight fights.

A Complete Grappler

Mitchell holds a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and remains one of the most technically dangerous ground fighters in the UFC bantamweight division. With nine career submission victories and a finishing instinct that has produced some of the most memorable moments in recent UFC history, Mitchell continues to present a serious threat to anyone who finds themselves on the canvas with him.

First Round Management

Bryce Mitchell is represented by First Round Management, a leading MMA management company specialising in UFC athlete representation, contract negotiation, brand partnerships and career development for elite combat sports professionals. For booking and commercial enquiries, contact our team at info@firstroundmanagement.com.